194 
ELECTRICITY is perhaps one of the moft 
interefting objeéts.of attention in the whote 
body of animal phyfiology.. It is weil 
knownthat GALVAN? was accidentally icd 
to his difcovery by obferving the motions 
of fome frogs, at a certrin diftance from 
an ele¢{rical machine difcharging iparks. 
‘The committee trom the inftiitute made, 
therefore, fome attempts to aicertain the 
relations between ele€iricity and Galva- 
nifm. Having firft paid due attenticn to 
the fufceptibility of animals toward the 
influence of eleétricity, they then fought 
to difcover to what precife degree animals 
divefted of the natural covering of the 
epidermis were liable tobe affected by the 
variations of the eleétrical fluid in. the at- 
mofphere around them... Next, compar- 
ing the fufceptibility of electricity, with 
the fufceptibility of Galvaniim, they per- 
ceived that quantities of the electrical 
finid; fuch as are ftill capable of being 
¥ery accurately meafured by the electro- 
meter, are, however, often tea weak to aét 
upen a frog that retains the moft perfect 
fentibility to all the energy of Galvanifim. 
The members of the committee purpofe 
to profecute farther their experiments-upon 
this part of the fubject.. 
VI. The following are the genera! re- 
faults of the experiments. made by M. 
HuMBOLDT in the prefenee ef the com- 
Mittee + 
¥. There is no truth in the affertion of 
certain phyfiologifis, that the experi- 
* 
gents of Galvanitin fail when tried upon. 
the heart and thof other muicles of. 
which the contragtions depend not upon 
volition. For thefe organs have been 
found to be actualiy fubjeét to the in- 
fluence of Galvaniiin. 
2. The effects of Getvanifin are lable 
fo be interrupted by the conftriction of /pzrit of fal ammoniac, a phialof hartshorn,. 
B nerve,, whenever both the nerve and the 
conftricting ligature are enyeloped in the 
fieth of the animal body. 
3. The powers Of the exciting are may 
be rencvated omdeftroyed, even though its 
fupporters remain the fame,.and although 
the extremities of the are be unchanged, 
Only the relations of the imtermediate 
matters reqttire to be altered. 
4... There areatmo(pheres of Galvanifm. 
§.. There are fubftances which, though 
jn an eminent manner conduétors of elec- 
tricity; yet interrupt the motions of Gal- 
vanifm. 
M. Humeorpr had performed alfo 
ether experiments; which, when he at- 
tempted to repeat them before thé com- 
Mittee, could not be brought to fucceed, 
en account, as was fuppoied, of the fea- 
fon of the year. 
Dr. Mitchill om the popular Ufe of Alkalies. 
fAprif 
Such are the principal refults of this 
very Valuable train of experiments uper 
Galvagiim. It is eafy to difcern, that 
they have only opened up, for a few 
paces. farther, a path, of which there re- 
mains yet very much to be explored, and. 
which promiles difcoveries the moft inte- 
refting and rmportant. to.rhe philofopher 
and the phyfician.. ‘ 
~—S ae 
For the Monthly Magaztae.. 
Dr. MITCHILL’s SECOND LETTERL 
(See p. 108 of our laft Number.) 
MY DEAR MABAM, > 
OU are candid enough to affure me;. 
and a number of our friends, *¢ that. 
you felt a confiderable fhare of pride for 
the female fex, after. perufing a little note 
to Milfs x. of laft November, in Meff.. 
Swords’s Magazine, and, as-they fay, al- 
cribed, to me.” I believe the leading 
fentiment there advanced is true, that 
women bave always and uniformly ob- 
viated and extinguifhed pefiilesce by more. 

_* 
rational and fuccefsful means then the mtn. - 
have followed. This is ewing, as you 
obferve, to the ufe of alkaline fubjtances 
in a great varicty of their domeftic opera- 
tions. Sih 
In addition to what is there brought to noa- 
tice, you obferve, ** that the madern fafhion: 
of diicarding all fimelling-bottles, and. 
other. applications to the noftrils, on the 
advice of certain of our diftinguifhed men,. 
mult be adopted’ with limitation: for,. 
however ufelefs it may be to employ 
thievas’-vinegar, rue, campaor, and other 
things-of thofe kinds, it certainly cannot 
be improper; it may beadvantageous to the 
ladies to comicrt themfelves with: a “ttle 
and fome volatile falts, in times of general. 
ficknefs.*” Why, certainly, madam,. you. 
are right im your remark. You fee in: 
this ivftance the old eftablifhed cuftom is. 
a good one, and ought net to be difcon- 
tinued. It is cruel and injurious in the- 
men to deprive you-atall ef thele whole-- 
fome precautions ;. but. ta do fo under 
pretence of long obfervation or experience- 
of their inutility ix a great deal worfe. 
It it fhould ever be eur misfortune to in- 
habit a place where a fickly air prevails, 
you may fafely and truly advife your fe- 
male fricnds to perfift in the ufe of thefe 
agreeable and reviving odours: they are 
preventiwes and antidotes, and att by 
neutralizing the acid vapours of peftilence 
which enter your noftrils, and affail yous 
his. Do net mind, therefore, thole 
. wauld-be- 
