396 
Mr. cavallo's Experiments and 
Promifcuous Experhnents. 
Confidering what a ftrong fpark is obtained from the 
metal plate belonging to Mr. volta’s machine, when 
not the leaft fpark can be obtained from the eleCtric plate 
itfelf, I was naturally induced to make ufe of the above 
mentioned metallic plate in difcovering the electricity of 
very weak eleCtrics, which otherwife would be either in- 
obfervable, or fo little as not to permit its quality to be af- 
certained. Accordingly, by the ufe of this plate, I obtain a 
very fenlible electricity from the hairs of my legs and of 
my head, or the head of almoft any other perfon, when 
ftroaked. 
In this manner I obtain fo ftrong fparks from the back 
of a cat, a hare’s fkin, a rabbit’s fkin, a piece of paper, 
or a piece of new flannel, that I can prefently charge a 
coated phial with either of thofe, and fo ftrongly as to 
pierce a hole through a card with its difcharge. 
I have often obferved, that, when ftroaking a cat with 
one hand I hold it with the other, I feel frequent fmart 
pricklings on different parts of that hand which holds 
the animal. In thefe circumftances very pungent fparks 
may be drawn from the tips of the ears of the cat. 
5 Smooth 
