( ) 



am refolved to ufe them with that free- 

 dom for which they were given. Hu- 

 manity is ever expofed to deception, 

 and the charms of novelty may perhaps 

 have precipitated M. de Reaumur into 

 an error. But to demonftrate, beyond 

 the poffibility of miftake, that the 

 fhoclc of the Torporific Eel is not the 

 immediate eifecl of mufcular motion, I 

 need only defire you to confider the fol- 

 lowing particulars, viz. 



1. The Torporific Eel, caught by a 

 hook, violently (hocks the perion hold- 

 ing the line. 



2. The fame Eel, touched with an 

 iron rod, held in the hand of a perfon, 

 whofe other hand is joined to that of 

 another, &c. communicates a violent 

 mock to ten or a dozen perfons thus 

 joining hands, in a manner exa&ly fimi- 

 lar to that of an eiedlric machine. 



3- A 



