In a paper published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1829, my brother, the late Sir Humphry Davy, has given an account of some experiments which he made on the torpedo for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of its electricity, whether it is of a peculiar kind or analogous to kinds already known. The results he obtained were altogether negative, and seemed to lead to the former conclusion. But that conclusion was so novel and important, that he did not consider himself justified in adopting it without further investigation. At the time he wrote the paper referred to, namely, in the autumn of 1828, in a very feeble state of health, he was on his way from southern Austria to Italy, where, if his health permitted, he intended renewing the inquiry. He arrived at Rome on the 19th of November, and, with his usual ardour of pursuit, immediately began his observations on the torpedo; but they were directed chiefly to its anatomical structure and natural history, rather than to its electricity; for, though this fish is to be had in abundance in the fish-market of that city, being brought from a distance, it is very difficult to obtain it alive. To make experiments on the living fish, he proposed going either to Civita Vecchia or Tormicina, where it is caught; but before he could accomplish this intention he suddenly experienced another and very severe attack of his complaint. This attack occurred on the 20th of February; and in a letter written from his dictation, five days after, when he considered himself dying, he particularly requested me to carry on the investigation; and such was his zeal for science, that, excepting in a postscript, no mention was made of the alarming state in which he then was. On my joining him from Malta, on the 16th of March, he was still dangerously ill, and had the same feeling of being near his end; but his mind was wonderfully clear and active, and his love of research as great as at any former period of his life. At his request, the following morning torpedos were obtained from the fish-market, and I amused him, day after day, with the results of my dissections, till his complaint acquiring an aggravated form, and threatening speedy dissolution, he was unable to attend to them. I then discontinued the inquiry, and till a few months ago, I have not had an opportunity of renewing it. The results which I have obtained I shall now have the honour of submitting to the Royal Society. The experiments which I shall first detail on the living fish have been made entirely at Malta, and under very advantageous circumstances; for, residing during the summer season close to the sea, I have been able to obtain torpedos fresh from the water, and in a state of great activity.
XXX. An account of an extraordinary acephalous birth. By W. Cooper, M.D. in a letter to William Hunter, M.D. F. R. S
