£ 7 3 
/ 
at fir ft, and ordered a fpark to be taken 
from the machine, on which the contrac¬ 
tions were renewed. The experiment 
was repeated a third time, but the animal 
remained motionlefs; however, on per¬ 
ceiving he held his fcalpel by the handle, 
which was of ivory (a bad conductor), 
he changed it for a metallic one, and re¬ 
excited the movements, which he con- 
ftantly failed of doing whilft tiling an. 
eleCtric fubftance. 
After having made a great number of 
experiments with the electrical machine, 
he refolved to profecute the fubjeCt with 
atmofpheric electricity. To this end, he 
raifed a conductor upon the roof of his 
houfe, from which he brought an iron 
wire into his room, and to this attached 
metal conductors, connected with the 
nerves of the animals deftined to be the 
fubjeCts of his experiments, and to their 
legs he tied wires, which reached the 
B 4 floor. 
