The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-19 00:00:00

At the last meeting of this society, a communi-
cation was read from Professor Matteucci, of Pisa,
giving the results of his researches on the electric
function of the torpedo. Professor Matteucci has
been long engaged in investigating the curious
electrical properties of this fish, and he has now
discovered that the action of the electric organ is
not, as has been hitherto supposed, momentary,
becoming charged under nervous influence produced
by anger, and discharging immediately that the
exciting cause ceases, but that it is always charged.
He has, however, ascertained by a series of experi-
ments that the action never ceases, and that round
the body of a torpedo, and probably of every other
electric fish there is a continual circulation of
electricity in the liquid medium in which the
animal is immersed. In fact, when the electric
organ, or even a fragment of it, is removed from
the living fish, and placed between the ends of
a galvanometer, the needle remains deflected at a
constant angle for 20 or 30 hours, or even longer.
Not only, however, is the electricity continually
generated while the torpedo is alive, but the pro-
fessor has found that the electric organ, or a portion
of it, detached from the fish, and even kept at a
freezing temperature, preserves its electromotive
properties from four to eight days; and an organ
which has been kept for 24 hours in a vessel sur-
rounded with a frigorific mixture of ice and salt is
found to possess an electromotive power as great as
that of the organ recently detached from the living
fish. Thus the electric organ retains its functional
activity long after both muscular and nervous
excitability have been extinguished.
What, then, is the action of the nerves on this
curious apparatus ? Here Professor Matteucci's
experiments afford a very distinct and conclusive
answer. Detach the organ of a living torpedo,
and cut it into two equal portions, so that each
portion may be connected with one of the large
nervous trunks and the galvanometer, and there
will not be any deflection of the needle, or at most
a very slight effect will be produced, which will
soon disappear. But if the organ be pricked by a
needle, the portion stimulated will give several dis-
charges in succession, thus proving that the electro-
motive apparatus becomes charged, and acts hide.
pendently of the influence of the nerves. We know
also that the discharge, which is only a state of
temporary increased activity of the organ, is brought
on by an act of the will in the living animal, or by
exciting the nerves of the organ.
Professor Matteucci is therefore of opinion that
an important step has been made towards clearing
up the theory of the animal electromotive appa-
ratus. The organ of the torpedo does not, under
the influence of the nerves, act as an induction
apparatus, the operation being more analogous to
that of a secondary pile, created through the influ-
ence of the nerves, in each constituent cell of the
organ.

THIS DAYS MARKETS.

COVENT GARDEN.

The show of fruit is tolerably good for the time of year ;
but the supply of vegetables is unusually small. For the
former there is a fair demand, at late rates. The latter
command very high prises.

FRUIT.

s. d. 8. d.
Pine apples, perlb 5 oto 10 01
Colonial do., each 1 oto 1 6
Grapes, per lb 6 oto 10 0
Foreign do 1 oto 2 0
'Melons, each
Peaches, per doz
Nectarines. per dz 2 oto 6 0
Apples, per hf. sv. 2 oto 4 0
Pears, per do
Oranges, per doz 3 dto 10 0
Lemons, per 100 3 6to 8 0
Apricots, per doz 2 oto 4 0

s. d. s. d
Cherries, per lb 0 0 to 0 0
Filberts, per lb 1 0 to 1 6
Cobnuts, per lb 1 0 to 1 6
Almonds, per bus 0 0 to 0 0
Walnuts, per 100 1 0 to 2 0
Figs, per doz 2 0 to 4 6
Strawberries potl 0 0 to 0 0
Gooseberries hf ay 0 0 to 0 0
Currants, per do. 0 0 to 0 0
Plums, per do.
Greengages, pr do. 0 0 to 0 0
Raspberries, prptlo 0 to 0 0
\BLEB.
Shallots, per lb
Horseradish, p bn 1 6 to 2 0
Parsley, per ditto 0 2 to 0 0
Celery, per ditto 0 8 to 1 6
Beet, per doz.
Parsnips, per do. 0 0 to 0 0
Small salad, p. pn, 0 2 to 0 0
Mushrooms,p pun 2 0 to 3 0
Artichokes, pr dz 4 0 to 6 0
Cabbage lett,score 1 0 to 2 0
Endive, per score 1 0 to 2 0
Radishes, dz hnds 0 6 to 0 0
Tomatoes, hf Bye 4 0 to 6 0
Walnuts, per 100 0 0 to 0 0
Chillies, per ditto 0 0 to 0 0
Capsicums, per do 0 0 to 0 0
Rhubarb, per bun 1 3 to 1 6
Asparagus, pr do. 10 0 to 30 0
Seakale, per pun. 2 0 to 3 0

TEGET.
Greens, dz bunch 8 oto 12 0
Cabbages, pr doz. 1 oto 2 0
Savoy do., pr do. 1 Bto 2 0
Cauliflowers, pdz 4 oto 8 0
Brocoli, per dz 0 oto 0 0
Potatoes, per ton 120 to 180 0
New ditto, per lb. 0 oto 0 0
Peas, per 4 sieve 1 6to 1 9
Turnips, dz bunch 5 0 to 6 0
Carrots, pr do 6 oto 8 0
Cucumbers 1 oto 1 6
Garlic, per lb
Sorrel, per sieve 0 oto 0 0
Spinach, hf.-sv 0 6to 0 8
Brus. sprouts, h. s 2 6to 3 6
Old onions, hf. ay 0 oto 0 0
Do., dz bun
French beans, 100 i 9to 2 0
Leeks, per bunch 0 oto 0 0

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.

Turkeys, 4s Od to 15s Od ; poults, 4s Od to 7s Od each ;
geese, 5s Od to 75 Od ; goslings, 4s Od to 9s Od ; ducklings,
25 Od to 3s Od ; rabbits, 15 Od to 2s Od each ; wild do., 9d
to is 3d ; pigeons, 8d to ls'Od each; large Surrey fowls,
6s Od to 12s Od; chickens, 5s Od to 7s Od; barn-door fowls,
4s Od to 6s Od ; capons, 4s Od ; hares, 3s Od to 3s 6d ;
grouse, is 6d to 2s Od oach ; pheasants, 4s 6d to 6s Od ;
ptarmigan, 2s 6d to Os ; woodcocks, 2s Od to 3s Od; snipes, is
Od to Os Od; teal, is to Os Os Od ; wild ducks, 2s Od to Os Od;
widgeons, Is 6d to Os Od ; plovers, Os Gd to Os 9d each ;
guinea fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; roasting pigs, 4s Od to 9s Od
each ; Ostend fresh butter, 15 Od to is 2d ; English, is ld
to is 6d per lb ; English eggs, 14s Od to 15s Od ; French do.,
12s Od to 13s Od per 120 ; leverets, 2s Od to 2s 6d each.