Contents
Part I
Of the Nature and General Properties of Galvanism
Proposition I. Muscular contractions are excited by the development of a fluid in the animal machine, which is conducted from the nerves to the muscles without the concurrence or action of metals
Prop. II. The Galvanism excited, in the preceding experiments, is not owing to the communication nor to the transfusion of the general electricity, but to an electricity peculiar to animals, which acts a very distinguished part in the animal economy
Prop. III. Galvanism develops itself in a powerful manner, independently of metals, by means of the human animal machine 8
Prop. IV. Muscular contractions can be excited, under certain conditions, without establishing a continued arc from the nerves to the muscles 11
Prop. V. The effects of Galvanism, in the preceding experiments, do not depend on the action of any stimulant, which occurs in performing the experiments, and ought not to be confounded with the effects of that action
Prop. VI. Galvanism is excited in the animal machine without any intermediate body, and merely by the application of the nerves to the muscles 14
Prop. VII. The heterogeneity of metals contributes, in a great degree, to excite muscular contractions with more facility, but is not absolutely necessary to their production
Prop. VIII. The Leyden flask, the Voltaic pile, and animal substances, have the faculty of absorbing principles from the atmospheric air in an insulated plenum
Prop. IX. Flame prevents the action of the Leyden flask, as well as that of the pile, and also muscular contractions 27
Prop. X. Certain fluids, applied to the whole surface of the pile, or of animal parts, do not prevent the action of Galvanism 29
Prop. XI. Mere electrization, by means of the common kinds of apparatus, does not increase the action of Galvanism 32
Prop. XII. The Galvanic action is increased by employing as part of the arc the apparatus of Volta, or the electrified Leyden flask 34
Prop. XIII. Galvanism, in animals and in the pile, traverses large spaces with the same rapidity as the electric fluid 36
Prop. XIV. The muscular contractions, which, according to the observations of Galvani, are produced by an electric atmosphere whether natural or artificial, correspond entirely with those produced by the pile, or by similar kinds of apparatus
Prop. XV. Opium, cinchona, and other stimulants of a similar kind, which exercise a powerful action on the animal machine, contribute also to excite the action of the pile
Prop. XVI. If the general relation between Galvanism and electricity be examined, such a correspondence will be found between them, as tends to confirm the analogy already stated
Prop. XVII. The hypothesis of an animal pile, analogous to that formed artificially, seems well calculated to explain the sensations and contractions in the animal machine
Part the Second
Part the Third
Sect. I. Advantages which the medical administration of Galvanism has over that of common electricity 99
Sect. V. General reflections on the action and influence which Galvanism, considered in a medical point of view, exercises on the animal œconomy 123
Dissertation on animal electricity, read in the Institute of Bologna in the year 1793 133
Second Dissertation on animal electricity, read in the Institute of Bologna in the year 1794 155
No. I. An account of the experiments performed, by J. Aldini, on the body of a malefactor executed at Newgate Jan. 17, 1803 ib.
No. II. Report presented to the Class of the Exact Sciences of the Academy of Turin, 15th August 1802, in regard to the Galvanic experiments made by C. Vassali-Eandi, Giulio, and Rossi, on the 10th and 14th of the same month, on the bodies of three men a short time after their decapitation. By C. Giulio
No. III. Account of an experiment made at Calais, on the transmission of Galvanism through an arm of the sea 217
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE LATE
IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANISM.
A just tribute of applause has been bestowed on the celebrated Professor Volta for his late discovery; and I have no desire to deprive him of any part of that honour to which he is so justly entitled; but I am far from entertaining an idea that we ought, on this account, to neglect the first labours of Galvani. Though these two philosophers pursued different routes, they concurred to throw considerable light on the same points of science; and the question now is, to determine which of them deduced the most just consequences from the facts he observed; and then to ascertain whether the facts established by Galvani lead to the theory of Volta, or whether those discovered by Volta are connected with the theory of Galvani. For my part, I am of opinion that these two theories may serve in an eminent degree to illustrate each other.
Last year Professor Volta announced to the public the action of the metallic pile. I here propose to exhibit, according to the principles of Professor Galvani, the action of the animal pile.
Such is the plan I have conceived in order to reconcile the systems of these two illustrious philosophers: it forms the object of the present work, which is divided into three parts. In the first I shall exhibit the action of Galvanism independently of metals, and explain some of its general properties. The second will contain experiments on the power of Galvanism to excite the vital forces. In the third I shall propose some useful applications of it to medicine, and explain the principles on which the new medical administration of Galvanism is founded. To render the work as methodical as possible, I have endeavoured to arrange the experiments in such a manner that they may serve as proofs to a series of general propositions, which, it is hoped, will be of use to physiology and to the doctrine of the animal economy.