9N THE TOZIPEDQ. j.X^S 



}t towards the organs, nor in infulating the fiQi, covering it 

 with a metallic plate, and malying a communication between 

 this plate, by means of a conducing thread, and thecondenfer 

 f)f Volta, was there gny indication (as with the gymnotus) 

 t|iat the j^nloial affeded the electric intenfity of furrounding 

 todies. 



1 1. As eleftric fifh, when healthy, e^^ercife their powers as Examination o£ 

 forcibly beneath the water as in the open air, \ve were led to powers of watf? 

 examine the conducting properties of this fluid. Several per- 



ions formed a chain of hands between the faperior and inferior 

 furfaces of the organs of the torpedo : the fliock was not felt 

 until they had wetted their hands. The aClion was not interr 

 pepted when two perfons fqpported the torpedo with their 

 right hands ; and inftead of holding each other's left hand, 

 they each plunged a metallic rod into water placed upon aa 

 ifolated body. 



12. By fubftituting f^ame in lieu of water, the communica- Flame (Joes not 

 tion was deftroyed, until the rodj touched each other m the ^^^j^' "■ ^ 

 ^ame. 



13. It muft, however, be obferved, th^t in water, as in No ftock can be 



,, „ , , ., , . , . ,. , obtained without 



air, the Inock was not perceptible without an nnmeqiate con- immediate con. 

 tadl with the body of the eleftric fifli : the leaft poffible interr ^^^ with the 

 vention of the water prevented it. This fact is the more re- ' 

 nmrkable, as it is known that in galvanic experiments, wheye 

 the frog is immerfed in water, it is fufficient todire<5l the filver 

 forceps towards the mufcles to caufe a contradlion, though a 

 body of water be interpofed, equal to one or iwo millimetres 

 in thicknefs, or about one-twentieth of an inch. 



Thefe, my dear friend, are the principal obfervations which Organs of the 

 we have made on the torpedo. The experiments, No. 4 and ce'^tible o?an''^' 

 10, prove thai the eleflric organs of thefe animals are not fuf-excefs of charge, 

 ceptible of any intenfiity or excefs of charge. Their a6tion 

 may rather be compared to that of a combination of Leyden 

 phials, than to the condu6tor of Volta. Without communica- 

 tion no fliock could be felt : and having experienced tbe power Doubt whether 

 of the gymnotus through very dry cords, I imagine, that where „ mnotus can be 

 I have been affected by this powerful animal without diredl felt without ac- 

 conlatl, it had been occafioned by fome deficiency in my Jn. '^^aUon'*" 

 fulated fiate. If the torpedo a6l by poles, that is by an elec- Torpedo fup- 



tric equilibrium which poflefles a tendency to repleni(l\ itfelf, P^^^f '^^.^''^ . 

 . , r , , / < -r, an eledric equi- 



^Jtperimenls 5 and u leem to prove that thele poles exift nearnbrium, the op- 

 each po'i'^s ft^ts b':ing 

 very neatt 



