LIFE AND FORCE. 105 



living bodies is very far from throwing any light 

 on the nature of nerve force, the phenomena observed 

 being those exhibited by protoplasm in general, rather 

 than by nerve or muscle in particular. The effect 

 produced on human beings by changes in the atmo- 

 spheric electricity is as yet imperfectly understood. 

 Some people are affected in health or temper of mind 

 by an approaching thunderstorm, others not at all. 

 Every one knows that electricity can be generated by 

 rubbing certain substances with a cat's skin, or, in 

 some states of the weather, by rubbing a live cat's 

 fur backward with the hand : electric sparks can 

 similarly be produced by rapidly combing one's hair 

 with a vulcanite comb. But none of these facts cau 

 be supposed to have any very important bearing on 

 the investigation of the forces concerned in the func- 

 tions of animal life. 



The existence of electric animals, however, is a very 

 suggestive fact, though their structure is at present 

 quite inexplicable (see p. 263). But all statements 

 regarding any connection of electricity with the 

 animal organism should be received with extreme 

 caution, since this field of inquiry constitutes the 

 "happy hunting-ground" of charlatans. Electrical 

 treatment of various kinds is sometimes used with 

 good results by the physician, but this no more proves 

 that nerve force has anything to do with electricity, 

 than the employment of massage treatment with good 

 results proves that it is identical with mechanical force. 

 Animal " magnetism " is another favourite topic of 



