Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
April 15, 1803
The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Report from a London paper on Professor Aldini's galvanic experiments in Dr. Pearson's Lecture Rooms, demonstrating nerve-muscle attraction, heart excitation in a rabbit, inter-animal contractions, and dramatic effects on an ox's head, observed by nobility and gentlemen.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
From a late London paper.
Some curious Galvanic experiments were made on Friday last by Professor Aldini, in Dr. Pearson's Lecture Rooms. They were by far more interesting and satisfactory than any we have yet noticed, owing to the pains to procure the fittest subjects for the operations. They were instituted in the presence of General Andreossi, Lord Pelham, Duke of Roxburgh, Ld. Castlereagh, Lord Hervey, the Hon. Mr. Upton, Mr. Cholmondeley, Mr. Anchorin, Mr. Elliot, and several other gentlemen of rank. The Professor was assisted ably, as on former occasions, by Mr. Capue, Mr. Cuthbertson; and M. Hutchins.
Among other important acts, it was decisively shewn,
1. That a vital attraction subsists between a nerve and muscle ; for the suspended sciatic nerves of a frog after detaching the spine, being brought near the intercostal muscles of a dog, while the assistant who held the frog did, with his other hand, touch the muscles of the thigh of the dog (thus forming a circle,) in this situation, the nerves suspended approached, and came into contact with the muscle, as evidently as a silken thread is attracted by sealing wax.
2. The heart of a rabbit was excited to action in a little time after the animal was killed, but vitality disappeared much sooner than in the other muscles, so that this organ is the primum, and not as Harvey asserted the ultimum moriens. The lungs, liver, and spleen could not be excited to action, even immediately after the animal was killed.
3. The most important fact of all, was that of exciting contractions by making a circle of nerves and muscles of different animals, without any metallic exciter or conductors.
4. The head of an ox, recently decapitated, exhibited astonishing effects : for the tongue being drawn out by a hook fixed into it, on applying the exciters, in spite of the strength of the assistant, the tongue was retracted, so as to detach itself, by tearing itself from the hook, at the same time a loud noise issued from the mouth by the absorption of air, attended by violent contortions of the whole head and eyes.
Some curious Galvanic experiments were made on Friday last by Professor Aldini, in Dr. Pearson's Lecture Rooms. They were by far more interesting and satisfactory than any we have yet noticed, owing to the pains to procure the fittest subjects for the operations. They were instituted in the presence of General Andreossi, Lord Pelham, Duke of Roxburgh, Ld. Castlereagh, Lord Hervey, the Hon. Mr. Upton, Mr. Cholmondeley, Mr. Anchorin, Mr. Elliot, and several other gentlemen of rank. The Professor was assisted ably, as on former occasions, by Mr. Capue, Mr. Cuthbertson; and M. Hutchins.
Among other important acts, it was decisively shewn,
1. That a vital attraction subsists between a nerve and muscle ; for the suspended sciatic nerves of a frog after detaching the spine, being brought near the intercostal muscles of a dog, while the assistant who held the frog did, with his other hand, touch the muscles of the thigh of the dog (thus forming a circle,) in this situation, the nerves suspended approached, and came into contact with the muscle, as evidently as a silken thread is attracted by sealing wax.
2. The heart of a rabbit was excited to action in a little time after the animal was killed, but vitality disappeared much sooner than in the other muscles, so that this organ is the primum, and not as Harvey asserted the ultimum moriens. The lungs, liver, and spleen could not be excited to action, even immediately after the animal was killed.
3. The most important fact of all, was that of exciting contractions by making a circle of nerves and muscles of different animals, without any metallic exciter or conductors.
4. The head of an ox, recently decapitated, exhibited astonishing effects : for the tongue being drawn out by a hook fixed into it, on applying the exciters, in spite of the strength of the assistant, the tongue was retracted, so as to detach itself, by tearing itself from the hook, at the same time a loud noise issued from the mouth by the absorption of air, attended by violent contortions of the whole head and eyes.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
What keywords are associated?
Galvanic Experiments
Professor Aldini
Nerve Muscle Attraction
Vitality
Animal Contractions
Ox Head
Heart Excitation
What entities or persons were involved?
From A Late London Paper
Literary Details
Author
From A Late London Paper
Subject
Galvanic Experiments By Professor Aldini
Form / Style
Prose Report On Scientific Observations
Key Lines
That A Vital Attraction Subsists Between A Nerve And Muscle ; For The Suspended Sciatic Nerves Of A Frog After Detaching The Spine, Being Brought Near The Intercostal Muscles Of A Dog... As Evidently As A Silken Thread Is Attracted By Sealing Wax.
The Heart Of A Rabbit Was Excited To Action In A Little Time After The Animal Was Killed, But Vitality Disappeared Much Sooner Than In The Other Muscles, So That This Organ Is The Primum, And Not As Harvey Asserted The Ultimum Moriens.
The Most Important Fact Of All, Was That Of Exciting Contractions By Making A Circle Of Nerves And Muscles Of Different Animals, Without Any Metallic Exciter Or Conductors.
The Head Of An Ox, Recently Decapitated, Exhibited Astonishing Effects : For The Tongue Being Drawn Out By A Hook Fixed Into It, On Applying The Exciters... Attended By Violent Contortions Of The Whole Head And Eyes.