. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative; Physiology, Comparative. 322 ELECTRIC FISHES. 9 o that of the belly negative. When two parts of the same surface, at an equal distance from the electric organ, are touched, no effect is produced; but if one be further from it than the other, a discharge occurs. It has been found that, however much a Torpedo is irritated through a single point, no discharge takes place; but the fish makes an effort to bring the border of the other surface in contact with the offending body, through which a shock is then sent. This, indeed, is probably the usual mann
. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative; Physiology, Comparative. 322 ELECTRIC FISHES. 9 o that of the belly negative. When two parts of the same surface, at an equal distance from the electric organ, are touched, no effect is produced; but if one be further from it than the other, a discharge occurs. It has been found that, however much a Torpedo is irritated through a single point, no discharge takes place; but the fish makes an effort to bring the border of the other surface in contact with the offending body, through which a shock is then sent. This, indeed, is probably the usual manner in which its discharge is effected. If the fish be placed between two plates of metal, the edges of which are in contact, no shock is perceived by the hands placed upon them, since the metal is a better con- ductor than the human body ; but, if the plates be separated, and, while they are still in contact with the opposite sides of the body, the hands be applied to them, the discharge is at once rendered perceptible, and may be passed through a line formed by the moistened hands of two or more persons. In the same manner, also, a visible spark may be produced ; but this is less easily ob- tained from the Tor- pedo than from the Gymnotus. 422. The electric organs of the Torpedo are of flattened shape, and occupy the front and sides of the body,. Fig. 167.—Electric Apparatus of Torpedo. c, brain ; me, spinal cord; o, eye and optic nerve; e, electric organs ; np, pneumogastric nerve, supplying electric organs; nl, lateral nerve ; n, spinal Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Carpenter, William Benjamin, 1813-1885. London : Wm. S. Orr and Co.
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