SUPPOSED MAGNETIC PHENOMENA. 
120 
tvould be but a feeble part of tbe stroke which re-establishes 
the equilibrium in the interior of the fish.* As the gym- 
ttotus directs its stroke wherever it pleases, it must also be 
admitted that the discharge is not made by the whole skin 
at once, but that the animal, excited perhaps by the motion 
°f a fluid poured into one part of the cellular membrane, 
establishes at will the communication between its organs 
and some particular part of the skin. It may be conceived 
that a lateral stroke, out of the direct current, must become 
^perceptible under the two conditions of a very weak 
discharge, or a very great obstacle presented by the nature 
a nd length of the conductor. Notwithstanding these con- 
siderations, it appears to me very surprising that shocks 
°f the torpedo, strong in appearance, are not propagated 
f° the hand when a very thin plate of metal is interposed 
between it and the fish. 
Schilling declared that the gymnotus approached the 
magnet involuntarily. We tried in a thousand ways this 
Opposed influence of the magnet on the electrical organs, 
Without having ever observed any sensible eflect. The fish 
110 more approached the magnet, than a bar of iron not 
magnetic. Iron-filings, thrown on its back, remained motion- 
less. 
The gymnoti, which are objects of curiosity and of the 
fbe deepest interest to the philosophers of Europe, are at 
mice dreaded and detested by the natvies. They furnish, 
mdeed, in their muscular flesh, pretty good aliment; but 
fjie electric organ fills the greater part of their body, and 
this organ is slimy, and disagreeable to the taste; it is 
. The heterogeneous poles of the double electrical organs must 
* lst in each organ. Mr. Todd has recently proved, by experiments 
° n t Qr P e dos at the Cape of Good Hope, that the animal continues 
c ° H 1Te violent shocks when one of these organs is extirpated. On the 
“otraiy, all electrical action is stopped (and this point, as elucidated by 
. an >, i s 0 f the greatest importance) if injury he inflicted on the 
dm?’ ° r ' l " nerves which supply the plates of the electrical organs be 
In the latter case, the nerves being cut, and the brain left an-, 
nched, the torpedo continues to live, and perform every muscular 
sufr ' ner| t' Ash, exhausted by too numerous electrical discharges, 
ere d much more than another fish deprived, by dividing the nerves- 
- c °mmunication between the brain and the electromotive apparatus, 
'UftUosophical Transactions, 1816). 
n. 
x 
