18 
SIR HUMPHRY DAVY’S EXPERIMENTS ON THE TORPEDO. 
how copiously it is furnished with nerves. In examining the columnar struc- 
ture of the organ of the Torpedo, I have never been able to discover arrange- 
ments of different conductors similar to those in galvanic combinations, and 
it seems not improbable that the shock depends upon some property developed 
by the action of the nerves. 
To attempt to reason upon any phenomena of this kind as dependent upon 
a specific fluid, would be wholly vain. 
Little as we know of the nature of electrical action, we are still more igno- 
rant of the nature of the functions of the nerves. There seems, however, a 
gleam of light worth pursuing in the peculiarities of animal electricity, its 
connection with so large a nervous system, its dependence upon the will of 
the animal, and the instantaneous nature of its transfer, which may lead when 
pursued by adequate inquirers to results important for physiology. 
The weak state of my health will, I fear, prevent me from following this sub- 
ject with the attention it seems to deserve; and I communicate these imperfect 
trials to the Royal Society, in the hope that they may lead to more extensive 
and profound researches. 
October 24 th, 1828. 
Lubiana, Illyria. 
