34 Mr. Todd's experiments on the 
I repeated the same on the smaller one. The shocks were 
with difficulty distinguishable. I cannot attribute the weak- 
ness of the shocks more to the removal of a part of the organs, 
than to the exhaustion from repeated action. 
The next subject of my experiments was about nine or ten 
inches in length, and of the same colour as the former ones. 
It was lively, and parted with its shocks freely. When held 
by the tail, or that part placed between the anterior extre- 
mities of the electrical organs, it was, as before observed, 
perfectly incapable of communicating the shocks. 
I made an incision extending round the circumference of 
both organs, so as to leave no attachment between the elec- 
trical organs and the animal, except by the nerves. Shocks 
were received as before. 
I removed the large lateral cartilages, and denuded a large 
portion of the surfaces of the electrical organs. After this 
change, two distinct shocks were received, but the animal 
being much injured, soon died. 
In performing these experiments, I observed how power- 
fully the action of the electrical organs was excited by the 
cutting of the scalpel, and on one occasion pressing on the 
electrical organ with my left hand, and holding the scalpel wet 
in the other, while cutting the electrical organ, I received a dis- 
tinct shocik in the right hand through the scalpel. In dissect- 
ing these animals, I had also the occasion of remarking, that 
all the nerves of the electrical organs arise from the medulla 
oblongata , notwithstanding the long course which three of 
them are obliged to follow, before they penetrate the electrical 
organs. 
The torpedo termed “ la tremble ” by the lower orders in 
