PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. VOL. 66, 1776, 

 PART I, pp. 196-225 



account of some attempts to imitate the effects 

 of the Torpedo by Electricity 



Read Jan. 18, 1775. 

 {See Table of Contents at the beginning of this volume.] 



395] Although the proofs brought by Mr Walsh *, that the phenomena 

 of the torpedo are produced by electricity, are such as leave little room 

 for doubt; yet it must be confessed, that there are some circumstances, 

 which at first sight seem scarcely to be reconciled with this supposition. 

 1 propose, therefore, to examine whether these circumstances are really 

 incompatible with such an opinion; and to give an account of some 

 attempts to imitate the effects of this animal by electricity. 



396] It appears from Mr Walsh's experiments, that the torpedo is not 

 constantly electrical, but hath a power of throwing at pleasure a great 

 quantity of electric fluid from one surface of those parts which he calls 

 the electrical organs to the other; that is, from the upper surface to the 

 lower, or from the lower to the upper, the experiments do not determine 

 which ; by which means a shock is produced in the body of a person who 

 makes any part of the circuit which the fluid takes in its motion to restore 

 the equilibrium. 



397] One of the principal difficulties attending the supposition, that 

 these phenomena are produced by electricity, is, that a shock may be 

 perceived when the fish is held under water; and in other circumstances, 

 where the electric fluid hath a much readier passage than through the 

 person's body. To explain this, it must be considered, that when a jar 

 is electrified, and any number of different circuits are made between its 

 positive and negative side, some electricity will necessarily pass along 

 each; but a greater quantity will pass through those in which it meets 

 with less resistance, than those in which it meets with more. For instance, 

 let a person take some yards of very fine wire, holding the end in each 

 hand, and let him discharge the jar by touching the outside with one end 

 of the wire, and the inside with the other; he will feel a shock, provided 

 the jar is charged high enough; but less than if he had discharged it without 



* [Philosophical Transactions, 1773, pp. 461-477. Of the Electric Property of 

 the Torpedo. In a letter from John Walsh, Esq., F.R.S., to Benjamin Franklin, 

 Esq., LL.D., F.K.S., &c. Read July i, 1773. 



