An Account of the Late Improvements in Galvanism: With a Series of Curious and Interesting Experiments Performed Before the Commissioners of the French National Institute, and Repeated Lately in the Anatomical Theatres of LondonAldini, Giovanni
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An Account of the Late Improvements in Galvanism: With a Series of Curious and Interesting Experiments Performed Before the Commissioners of the French National Institute, and Repeated Lately in the Anatomical Theatres of London
Aldini, Giovanni
Electricity -- Early works to 1850
illustrated when the physiology of the human body is better known.
Galvani, to explain the activity of animal electricity, supposes the
nerves and muscles to be like the Leyden jar; and this idea I
confidently adopted. But by the expression ‘Leyden flask’ he meant
nothing else than that in the animal machine there are two opposite
kinds of electricity, resulting from the nervous and the muscular
systems, to which animal moisture continually serves as a vehicle. It
was in this sense that he announced his theory of the Leyden flask, in
his public lectures, and in his last works. No better comparison was
then known, in the language of philosophy, to express this action. It
however affords me great pleasure, that I can now substitute for it
the pile discovered by Volta, which is perfectly consistent with the
system of Galvani; and since I am ready to allow that the invention of
the metallic pile gives Volta a title to the discovery of metallic
electricity, I hope the discovery of animal electricity, properly so
called, will be allowed to Galvani, as similar phænomena are exhibited
by the nervous and muscular systems, independently of common
electricity.
But some important questions in regard to Galvanism still remain to be
answered, such as the following: whether the action of chemical
combinations be the cause of Galvanism, or whether Galvanism be the
cause of chemical combinations. In my opinion, we have not yet a
sufficient number of data to determine this point. It may also be
asked, whether Galvanism be of the same nature as electricity, but
differently modified by the animal organization. For my part, until
their identity be proved by further researches, I shall be contented
with admitting that there is a great analogy between them.
But leaving these questions, the discussion of which might be
premature, it will be better to deduce general corollaries from the
series of experiments already detailed.
COROLLARY I.
It is found that there is a real attraction between certain parts of
animals; and this tends to confirm the idea of a sort of atmosphere
peculiar to parts of animals, as has been suggested by Humboldt. By
these means it will perhaps be one day possible to explain, with less
difficulty, the correspondence of some sensations in the animal
machine.
COROLLARY II.
The action of Galvanism on the aëriform fluids may serve to explain
its influence over the animal fluids by the oxidation of the humours,
and other phænomena which hitherto have been explained only in a
hypothetical manner.
COROLLARY III.
Fishes, and several amphibious animals which live under water,
sometimes approach the surface on certain changes of the atmosphere.
When the before-mentioned experiments on the Galvanic atmosphere are
considered, we may easily explain, why those changes which take place
in distant parts of the atmosphere are communicated to the element in
which these animals reside.
COROLLARY IV.
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