352 Experimental Researches in Electricity. 



results of the latter being the reverse of those of the 

 former." 



With the exception of tension, animal electricity exhibits 

 all the experimental effects due to the influence of the other 

 forms of electricity. Heat has been evolved, deflections of 

 the needle produced, true chemical decomposition display- 

 ed, and the spark distinctly observed, by using the current 

 derived from the gymnotus and torpedo. " In concluding 

 this summary of the powers of torpedinal electricity," Fa- 

 raday remarks, " I cannot refrain from pointing out the 

 enormous absolute quantity of electricity which the animal 

 must put in circulation at each effort. It is doubtful whe- 

 ther any common electrical machine has as yet been able to 

 supply electricity sufficient in a reasonable time to cause true 

 electro-chemical decomposition of water, yet the current 

 from the torpedo has done it. The same high proportion 

 is shewn by the magnetic effects. These circumstances in- 

 dicate that the torpedo has power, (in the way probably 

 that Cavendish describes) to continue the evolution for a 

 sensible time, so that its successive discharges rather resem- 

 ble those of a voltaic arrangement, intermitting in its action, 

 than those of a Leyden apparatus, charged and discharged 

 many times in succession. In reality, however, there is no 

 philosophical difference between these two cases." 



The general inference to be drawn from the collection of 

 facts made by Faraday, is undoubtedly that electricity, what- 

 ever may be its source, is identical in its nature. The phe- 

 nomena in the five kinds spoken of, differ in degree, not in 

 character; and in that respect vary in proportion to the va- 

 riable circumstances of quantity and intensity, which can 

 at pleasure be made to change in almost any one of the kinds 

 of electricity, as much as it does between one kind and an- 

 other. 



Before leaving this branch of the subject, Faraday gives 

 a table, which, as furnishing in epitome, all the evidence for 



