rW? 



Obicftions to 

 th:s ijoiion. 



Corlidcrations 

 of- theory. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



each other, on the fame furface of the organ. The flioc'k ia 

 felt on merely touching the furface with the finger. A plate 

 interpofcd belween the hand and the organ, [Exp. 6.) re-efta- 

 blifbes the equilibrium, and the hand which fuftains the plate 

 is not afF€<?^ed, becaufe it is placed beyond the current. But 

 if we fuppofe an heterogeneous number of poles upon each 

 furface of the organ, whence does it arife, that, in covering 

 thefc furfaceswith two raetal plates, whofe edges donottouch 

 each other, and placing the hands on thefe plates, the equili- 

 brium (hould be found in the arms? Why, it may be aiked, 

 does not the pofitive eledricity of the inferior furface feek 

 at the moment of explofion the negative ele6tricity of the next 

 orneareft pole, but rather feek it in the fuperior furface of the 

 electric organ ? Perhaps thefe difficulties may not be infur- 

 mountabie ; yet the theory of thefe vital aSdont well deferves 

 attentive refearch. Geoffioy has proved that thornbacks, who 

 give no figns of eledricity, are furnifhed with organs analo- 

 gous to thofe of the torpedo. The leaft injury on the brain of 

 the torpedo dellroys its eledric powers. The nerves are no 

 doubt concerned chiefly in thefe phenomena ; and the phylio- 

 logift who Qiould admit the power of vital actions, might with 

 iuccefs oppofe the theory of the naturalift, who would endea- 

 vour to explain all by the cental of the albumino-gelatinous 

 pulp of the nervous laminae wherewith nature has endowed 

 tlie organs of the torpedo. 



SCIEWT2FIC NEWS. 



Prizes prnpnfed by the Univerjitj/ and Acadnny of William m 

 June, 1805. 



CLASS OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. 



To determine 

 whether faccha- 

 rinc Icrrcrions 

 take place in 

 other organs be- 

 fidcs thofe af- 

 fefled in diafce- 

 teB meiiitus. 



Firjl Prizes 



jOESIDPJS the diabetes mellitus of the authors on medicine, 

 are there any other diforders peculiar to man, which, ac- 

 cording to experiments well afcertained, produce in different 

 organs a fecrelion fimilar to fugar, fufficiently abundant to 

 finally occafion confuroption ? And what are thefe diforders? 

 5 I« 



