[ 5 ] 
the foul of the univerfe, phyfiologifts 
imagined they could exhibit it as a prin¬ 
cipal agent in the animal economy; it 
was accordingly fubftituted by them for 
the animal fpirits , concerning which, till 
this period, nothing fatisfadory had been 
advanced. The velocity of the eledrical 
fluid correfponded with that of the ner¬ 
vous fluid, and this analogy afforded the 
greatefl: weight to the new theory. 
The hiftory of the torpedo, gymnotus, 
and other eledrical fifhes, furnifhed fads 
which might have completed the triumph 
of this dodrine, had it not unfortunately 
remained in obfcurity. Some, 5 tis true, 
endeavoured to fupport and extend it, but 
their efforts did not make many converts 
to their opinions. Phyfiologifls either 
denied the exigence of animal fpirits al¬ 
together, or, if they admitted them, in¬ 
filled upon afcribing them to fome other 
fource than that of eledricity. At prefent, 
B 3 it 
