Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-04-10
ELECTRICAL FISH.


VI the sea Who Possa..
iui BATTERIES as weanon. 'O"sr.
some years agoa Young man |, ~,
glory of his first knickerbocLa..aA ~ the
himself in small village ON Il. 'oand
England coast, and, liking tbe o neV
determined to spend the seasa ,O's q
The morning following his ayrir mere
ran down to the beach, where NJ a. No
a crowd of red slirted mon ~ ,Vuad
aroung flat fish about tbras sa'i'sfea
length. We're trying to Get so ny u
to heft it, said an old sea dop in ' a, one
to a question. Lift it! WIN ~, s,s,
could do that remarked the yornn , 1a
from the city. Jung man
"P'raps he could" replied ~. .,
man; but if you kin lug the fsb 's s,ea.
here to the dory over yonder Won , lsn
You're fine lot of men," said q.
city youth, with laugh; cant IL. .u0
fish of that size! Why, III waco -. y
same amount that can throw 4 a.. :.
| far" ual
Inc fishermen were very anxious ;,
take the wager, and finally the vow
man approached, thrust his fncprss ~ Ivy
the eyes of the fish, and, if il had b ="
any other fish we might have said Nv
pared to throw, but as it was fro ~ r.
ment his hands touched the fish a st,o ~
look OF surprise came over his face ssS
those near might have seen certs;n Va
ldlty OF the muscles. He retained Il.
| same position for several moments tban
| with many grimaces, asked TO be relis,,aa
and amid roars of laughter the fish va,
pulled from his hands. When the ronr.
man had recovered his eouanimity h
confessed that it was the heaviest 6sh ~
had ever attempted to lift.
The fish was the ray, known ponular,
as the torpedo torpedo marmoratusl and
] one of the most powerful of the marins
/ electricians
1t is said that the physician Of Glen
patra, Deoscorides, used these fishes in
medicine. and Dr. Walsh, F. R. S. was
probably the first to introduce its use in
1 England.
The experiment of DR.. Walsh created
a craze that swept over this country soma
few years ago. The most extrayagapt
/ stories We're circulated about the fsband
its marvellous powers of healing, andit
became fashionable fad to 90 to tbs
/ Isle of Re and take an electric SHOCK
I from the fish Of Dr. Walsh.
The living torpedo in these experi.
ments was placed upon a wet towel, and
from the fish extended two pieces Of
wire. the ends of which rested in bowls
of water. A circle Of persons was formed,
those upon the end placing their fingers
! i'll the water, and in this way the shock
was received by the entire party, and
often equaled that of Leyden jar in its
4 intensity
In examining the torpedo the electri-
cal apparatus is very noticeable, being
made up Of two large, fiat bodies lying
on each side of the head. The organs
are composed of numerous prisms placed
vertically, each Of which is subdiyided
by delicate septa, forming small cells,
which contain clear, tremulous, jelly
like substance. In a specimen Of torpedo
ma1moratus one may count nearly 300
of these prisms.
1t has been found that the upper side
of the fish is negative and the lowerpOsi-
tive, and that the power is entirely under
the control Of the fish. Some curious
experiments have been made; thus, the
scientist Marez applied a telephone to the
fish and at every ordinary shock given be
distinctly heard a click. When the fish
was greatly excited a loud groan was
heard, which sounded like mi, and the
discharge was prolonged four or five SEC
onds.
The electrical discharge of this hsh Is
not of sufficient power to kill man IN,
less he was in an extremely enfee6led
condition, but that it is fatal to other
/ fishes has been noticed on many occa-
sions. Moreau, a French observer no
ticed turbot fall upon a torpedo in fsn'
| ing boat and the result was lnstanahe-
ouslv fatal. They leaped high IN ar
upon receiving the shock, and fell 0acA
dead and rigid and remained for soIe
time bent in curve. Inappearance me
torredo is a fiat fish, with ROUNDED
head and short, thick tall,-Elecl'~
Review.