474 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1773. 



these in a minute; whence the number of shocks, in that time, must have 

 amounted to above a hundred. This experiment, therefore, while it discovered 

 the comparative force between a shock in water and one in air, and between a 

 shock delivered with greater exertion on the part of the animal and one with less, 

 seemed to determine, that the charge of his organs with electricity was effected 

 in an instant, as well as the discharge. 



The torpedo was then put into a flat basket, open at top, but secured by a 

 net with wide meshes, and, in this confinement, was let down into the water, 

 about a foot below the surface; being there touched, through the meshes, with 

 only a single finger, on one of his electric organs, while the other hand was 

 held at a distance in the water, he gave shocks which were distinctly felt in both 

 hands. The circuit for the passage of the effect being contracted to the finger 

 and thumb of one hand, applied above and below to a single organ, produced 

 a shock, to our sensation, of twice the force of that in the larger circuit by 

 the arms. 



The torpedo, still confined in the basket, being raised to within 3 inches of 

 the surface of the water, was there touched with a short iron bolt, which was 

 held, half above and half in the water, by one hand, while the other hand was 

 dipped as before, at a distance in. the water; strong shocks, felt in both 

 hands, were thus obtained through the iron. A wet hempen cord being fastened 

 to the iron bolt, was held in the hand above water, while the bolt touched the 

 torpedo; and shocks were obtained through both those substances. A less 

 powerful torpedo, suspended in a small net, being frequently dipped into water 

 and raised again, gave, from the surface of the water, slight shocks through the 

 net to the person holding it. 



These experiments in water manifested, that bodies, immersed in that 

 element, might be affected by immediate contact with the torpedo; that the 

 shorter the circuit in which the electricity moved, the greater would be the effect ; 

 and that the shock was communicable, from the animal in water, to persons in 

 air, through some substances. How far harpoons and nets, consisting of wood 

 and hemp, could in like circumstances, as it has been frequently asserted, 

 convey the effect, was not so particularly tried as to enable us to confirm it. 

 I mention the omission in the hope that some one may be induced to determine 

 the point by express trial. 



We convinced ourselves, on former occasions, that the accurate Kaempfer,* 

 who so well describes the effect of the torpedo, and happily compares it with 

 lightning was deceived in the circumstance, that it could be avoided by holding 

 in the breath, which we found no more to prevent the shock of the torpedo, 



* K«mpf. Amoen. Exot. 1712, p. 514. — Orig. 



