Electricity and Galvanism. 243 



2ndly. In a state of tension capable of acting on the electrometer, 

 giving to the whole body a generally positive condition, and arising, 

 in all probability, from the disturbance of the normal electric equili- 

 brium by the processes of evaporation and respiration. 



3rdly. In a state of current, a dynamic condition, arising from the 

 disturbance of equilibrium by the union of carbon with oxygen in the 

 capillary system, and from other chemical processes going on in the 

 body ; such currents, although suspected to be everywhere existing, 

 having been actually detected between the skin and mucous mem- 

 brane, the stomach and liver, and the interior and exterior of muscu- 

 lar structures. 



A difficult question now remains for us to grapple with : having 

 proved the existence of electric currents in the animal frame, what is 

 their office, what purpose are they destined to serve in the animal 

 economy ? That they must have some function to fulfil is obvious 

 from their presence ; that such function, whatever it may be, is 

 important will be at once conceded from their existence in almost 

 every part of the body. We know that nothing in the meanest 

 element of the universe is made in vain ; much less, then, can the 

 philosopher admit that the electricity existing in the masterpiece of 

 the Creator has not some great and destined purpose. From the 

 mysterious character of the agent under consideration, from the 

 astounding effects it developes, from its simulating some of the most 

 occult and remarkable phenomena of the external world, the active 

 imagination of the superficial as well as of the more sober observer 

 has always sought in electricity a clue to most, if not all, of the func- 

 tions of the body. Some, indeed, have gone the dangerous length 

 of regarding electricity as the principle of life itself, and have dared 

 to place it on a level with the divine essence, which, emanating from 

 the Creator, constitutes what, for want of a better name, we call vita- 

 lity. These pretensions have been given to this agent from its effects 

 when made to traverse the spinal nerves of a recently executed male- 

 factor. This, in the hands of Dr. Ure, in his celebrated experiment 

 upon the murderer Clydesdale, worked on the dead, but yet warm 

 corpse, a horrible caricature of life ; by calling into violent contrac- 

 tions the muscles of the face, all the expressions of rage, hatred, 

 despair, and horror, were depicted upon the features, producing so 



