t 473 1 
fur faces of the two, though in a contrary to 
that of the upper ; for no fhock can be obtained 
by an infulated perfon touching both organs above, 
or both below : And that the production of the 
effect depends folely on an intercourfe being made 
between the oppofite furfaces of the organs, 
whether taken fingly or jointly. 
All the parts bordering on the organs aCt, more 
or lefs, as conductors, either through their fub- 
ftance or by their fuperficies. While an infulated 
perfon, placing two fingers on the fame furface 
of one or both organs, cannot be affeCted ; if he 
removes one of his fingers to any fuch contiguous 
part, he will be liable to a fhock: but this fhock will 
not be near, perhaps not half, fo violent, as one 
taken immediately between the oppofite furfaces 
of the organ ; which fhews the conduction to be 
very imperfeCt. 
The parts, which conduCt the belt, are the two 
great lateral fins bounding the organs outwardly, 
and the fpace lying between the two organs in- 
wardly. All below the double tranfverfe cartilages 
fcarcely conduCt at all, unlefs when the fifh is juft 
taken out of water and is {till wet, the mucus, 
with which he is lubricated, (hewing itfelf, as it 
dries, to be of an infulating nature. 
The organs themfelves, when uncharged, ap* 
peared to be, not interiorly we might fuppofe, 
but rather exteriorly, conductors of a (hock. An 
infulated perfon touching two Torpedos, lying 
near one another on a damp table, with fingers 
placed, one on the organ of one fifh, and another 
VoL, LXIII, Q q q on 
