THE TORPEDO. 



109 



this is accompanied with an unlverfal tremor, a ficknefs 

 oiF the ftomach, a general convulfion, and a total fufpen- 

 lion of the faculties of the mind : In Ihort, fuch is the 

 pain, that all the force of our promifes and authority, 

 could not prevail upon a feaman to undergo the ihock 

 a fecond time *." 



The fubftance which the torpedo difcharges, and which 

 produces efFefts fo violent and inftantaneous upon the hu- 

 man frame, is probablj eleftric matter, but by what 

 means the animal fo foon collects it, no naturalift has been 

 able to explain. Great as its powers are when the ani- 

 mal is in vigor, they are impaired as it declines in ftrength, 

 and totally ceafe when it expires f ; they impart no nox- 

 ious qi'alitiestothe filh, when ufed as food ; for the French, 

 tvho find it in plenty on their coafts, very commonly 

 drefs and eat it J. Gale7i, we are told, recommends it ia 

 epeleptic complaints, while Rondeletius and Willoughhy^ 

 decidedly condemn it in ail cafes, as a watery, foft, and 

 fungous aliment §. 



The narcotic power of the torpedo, however It may 

 afFe£l it as food, is ferviceable to the animal in two im- 

 portant refpefts ; both as a means of defence againft vo- 

 racious fifli, and a method of procuriug fubfiftence from 

 among the fmaller tribes ; the former,when eledlriiied, are 

 deprived of all poffibility of feizing their prey ; and the 

 latter, after having unwarily approached the torpedo, and 

 received the ihock, are incapable of making their efcape ||. 



The food of the torpedo is furmulletts and plaife ; the 



former is fo fwift, that it is impoffible for the torpedo to 



take 



• Kempfcr's travels. f Salvianus and VVilloughb. p. %%. 



\ Britifli Zool. § Rondel dc pifcib. and Willou^h. Ihcthy I. p. %%, 

 Ij Pluiii Hift. Nat. 



I 



