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
Science
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
By forming an arc from the feet to the spinal marrow, first applying
armatures, and then employing a solution of muriate of soda as in the
preceding experiments, I obtained contractions, but weaker than those
in the upper extremities. As there was reason to suspect that this
diminution arose in part from the position of the trunk, I placed the
body in such a manner, that, while the thighs rested on the edge of
the table, the legs, which hung over it, were at full liberty to move.
This difference in position produced a difference in the results; and
I intend to repeat the experiment, according to this arrangement,
applying the arc directly to the crural nerves.
EXPERIMENT LI.
A small portion of the great pectoral muscle being detached from the
ribs, and exposed to the action of the pile, exhibited strong
contractions, and the motion of the diaphragm was also very
remarkable. The heart alone, though carefully subjected to all the
operations detailed in the 47th experiment, remained perfectly
motionless.
EXPERIMENT LII.
Having brought the separated head near to the neck of the trunk, I
established a communication between it and the trunk by means of the
animal moisture alone; and an arc being then formed from the head to
different parts of the trunk, sensible contractions were produced, and
particularly in the latter. This observation seems still further to
prove that an arc of moisture has power to excite muscular
contractions. In this, as well as in the preceding experiments, if any
of the spectators, while an arc was established by means of the pile,
brought a frog prepared in the usual manner near to the human body,
the frog experienced strong contractions, though at a distance from
the place to which the action of the Galvanism was determined.
EXPERIMENT LIII.
After three hours had been employed in these experiments, I conceived
the idea of trying the action of Galvanism on some parts of the body
separated from the trunk. One of the legs, therefore, was amputated
six inches above the joint of the knee; and an arc being established
from a point in the plane of the section to the knee, I obtained
contractions similar to those which had been produced before the limb
was separated from the body. I then formed an arc of moisture, by
applying the amputated limb to the trunk; and having determined the
action of the pile to the spinal marrow and the foot, I obtained very
sensible contractions. I observed, on this occasion, that a frog,
prepared some time before, and which was accidentally lying on the
table, at each application of the metallic arcs moved like an
electrometer, and thus confirmed the action of an arc of moisture.
EXPERIMENT LIV.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account