Observations on certain parts of the animal oeconomy. Inclusive of several papers from the Philosophical transactions, etc / by John Hunter ... With notes by Richard Owen.
- John Hunter
- Date:
- 1840
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Observations on certain parts of the animal oeconomy. Inclusive of several papers from the Philosophical transactions, etc / by John Hunter ... With notes by Richard Owen. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![of electricity, for here too the operations of the animal may be imitated by art. . am L The same quantity of electric matter, according as it is used in a dense or rare state, will produce the different consequences. — For example, a small phial, whose coated surface measures only six square inches, will, on being highly charged, contain a dense electricity capable of forcing a passage through an inch of air, and afford the phenomena of light, sound, attraction, and repulsion. Bat if the quantity condensed in this phial be made rare by com- municating it to three large connected jars, whose coated surfaces shall form together an area four hundred times larger than that of the phial (I instance these jars because they are such as I use); it will, thus dilated, yield all the negative phenomena, if I may so call them, of the torpedo; it will not now pass the hundredth part. of that inch of air which in its condensed state it sprung through with ease; it will now refuse the minute intersection in the strip of tinfoil; the spark and its attendant sound, even the attraction or repulsion of light bodies, will now be wanting; nor will a point — brought however near, if not in contact, be able to draw off the charge: and yet, with this diminished elasticity, the electric matter will, to effect its equilibrium, instantly run through a considerable circuit of different conductors, perfectly continuous, and make us sensible of an impulse in its passage. Let me here remark, that the sagacity of Mr. Cavendish in devising and his address in executing electrical experiments, led him the first to experience with artlficial electricity, that a shock could be received from a charge which was unable to force a pas-. sage through the least space of air. | But after the discovery that a large area of rare electricity would imitate the effect of the torpedo, it may be inquired, where is this large area to be found in the animal? We here approach to that veil of nature which man cannot remove. ‘This, however, we know, that from infinite d'vision of parts infinite surface may arise, and even our gross optics tell us that those singular organs, so often mentioned, consist like our electric batteries of many vessels, eall them cylinders or hexagonal prisms, whose superficies taken together furnish a considerable area. 37. ANATOMICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE TORPEDO.* BY JOHN HUNTER, F.R.S. I was desired some time since, by Mr. Walsh, whose experi- ments at La Rochelle had determined the effect of the torpedo to _ * {This paper was read before the Royal Society July 1, 1773, and published in the 63d volume of the Philosophical Transactions. ] ;](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b33292292_0412.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
