PREFACE. 
•THE dlfcovery of M. Galvdni concerning 
animal electricity, has opened a new field 
of enquiry for phyfiologifis and phyficians. 
At a very early period I entered upon it, and 
communicated to the public every fiep I took, 
•with an impatience arifing from motives too 
obvious to mention .* But on taking a retro - 
fpeB 
* My firf Experiments were publifhed at Pavia, in 
April 1792. The impatience which I exprejjed in my 
letter upon this fubjeB, left reafon to fufpeft that I had 
precipitated the experiments , They were however made 
with all necejfary time, and with the ajftjlance of DoBor 
Mafini, a very aBive, and well-informed young man , 
Many of them were new, at leaf fio one had undertaken 
them after the dlfcovery of M. Galvanic I did not draw 
any conclufions from the refults 1 obtained , This note is 
intended by way of anfwer to what M, Volta has had the 
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