2 i 8 Mr. cavendish on the Torpedo. 
to pafs through befides that in my hand, I received a 
fhock; fo that the electricity was able to force its way 
through four or five intervals of the links, but not more. 
One gentleman, indeed, found it not to pafs through a 
fingle interval; but in all probability the link which lay 
on the torpedo happened to bear more loofely than ufual 
againfl that in his hand. If inftead of this chain I ufed 
one compofed of thicker wire, the fhock would pafs 
through a great number of links ; but I did not count 
how many. It muft be obferved, that the principal re- 
finance to the paffage of the ele&rical fluid is formed 
by the intervals of the lower links of the chain; for as 
the upper are firetched by a greater weight, and there- 
fore prefled clofer together, they make lefs refiflance. 
Confequently the force required to make the fhock pafs 
through any number of intervals, is not twice as great as 
would be neceffary to make it pafs through half the 
number. For the fame reafon it pafles eafier through a 
chain confifting of heavy links than of light ones* 
Whenever the electricity paffed through the chain, a 
fmall light was vifible, provided the room was quite dark- 
This, however, affords no argument for fuppofing that 
the phenomena of the torpedo are not owing to eleCtri- 
city ; for its fhock has never been known to pafs through 
a chain or any other interruption in the circuit ; and con- 
fequently, it is impoffible that any light fhould have 
been feen. 
In all thefe experiments, the battery was charged to 
the fame degree ; namely, fuch that the fhock was nearly 
of 
