[ 48i 3 
XL. Anatomical Obfervations on the Tor- 
pedo. By John Hunter, F. R. S. 
Read July i, y WAS defired fome time fince, by 
I773 ' Jb Mr. Walfh, whofe experiments at 
La Rochelle had determined the effect of the 
Torpedo to be electrical, to diffedt and examine 
the peculiar organs by which that animal produces 
fo extraordinary an effeCt. This I have done in 
feveral fubjedts furnifhed to me by that Gen- 
tleman. 
I am now defired by him to lay before the So- 
ciety, the obfervations I have made; and for the 
better underftanding of them, to prefent, on his 
part, a male and female Torpedo in fpirits; in the 
latter of which the eleCfric organs are expofed irf 
different views and fedtions ; likewife a copper-plate, 
which he took care to have engraved, exhibiting 
thofe organs. 
Of the general ftru&ure and anatomy of the Tor- 
pedo I • fay nothing, fince the animal does not differ 
very materially, excepting in it’s ele&ric organs (as 
they have been properly named by Mr.Walfh) from 
the reft of the Rays, of which family it is well 
known to be. I will only premife, that the Tor- 
pedo, of which I treat, is about eighteen inches 
long, twelve broad, and in it’s central or thickeff 
part two inches thick ; which is nearly the fize of 
Vol. LXIIL Rrr the 
