500 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1774. 



the iron wire, there was not the least shock felt, though the whole of the bat- 

 tery was discharged, the iron wire of that length conducted it so perfectly. 



Mr. N. then tried the effect of the battery on some platina. Several of the 

 grains, or laminae, were laid on a piece of white wax, so as to make a length of 

 half an inch. On discharging the battery through the platina he found, that 

 not only the surface of some of the laminae, or grains, had been in fusion, but 

 that part of it was melted in beautiful white spherules, visible to the naked eye. 



Another experiment that Mr. N. tried, was on a duck; a chain was fastened 

 to its legs, and, holding it by the wings, the head was brought up to one of the 

 rods of the battery, so that the battery was discharged through it, from the 

 head to the feet: the consequence was, the duck was thrown into violent con- 

 vulsions, and expired in 2 or 3 minutes. He then took a turkey, and fastened 

 a wire round its neck, and another on its rump, in such manner, that the 

 nearest distance between the wires was along the back bone, thinking the charge 

 of the batteries might pass down the spine, and that the turkey would be made 

 paralytic: but, on discharging the battery, the turkey opened its bill, and 

 died instantly. He then took a cock, and fastenied a wire on his rump, and 

 placed one of the balls of the discharging rod on the middle of his back, so that 

 the charge might not pass near his vital parts: the battery being discharged, the 

 body of the cock was violently agitated, for about half a minute, and the head was 

 turned, so that the bill came against its breast ; the head and neck however soon 

 recovered, so that it moved its neck, to all appearance, as well as it did before it 

 was struck ; but the body was quite motionless, for about 20 minutes ; after that 

 it recovered very fast, and, in about 10 minutes more, was able to stand, and 

 walk a little. After this, he put a wire round its neck, in the same manner as 

 on the turkey: the effect was exactly the same; for, on discharging the battery 

 through it, it died instantly. The wire, that conducted the electrical stroke 

 which killed the turkey and cock, was Vt of an inch in diameter. 

 , The next experiment was on some plants. He discharged the battery through 

 a branch of a balsam, and examined it very attentively immediately after it was 

 struck, but could not perceive, there was the least alteration in the branch, till 

 about 10 or 15 minutes after; and then the upper part of the branch began to 

 droop its head, and continued drooping it, till it hung quite straight down, and 

 in 2 or 3 days entirely withered, though the other part of the plant was very 

 vigorous, and did not appear to be in the least affected; this experiment he 

 repeated, several times, on several balsams, as well as many other plants, and 

 always found the same appearances. 



From these experiments we find, that electricity, accumulated to a certain 

 degree, puts an end to vegetable as well as animal life. After having recited 



