The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-01-25
EVERY HUMAN BEING 4 BATTERY
Prof. Atkins, by Experiments, Shows
Senses are Electrical Action.


The entire human system is a
mass of electrical energy, and the hui
man senses are developed and main
tanned by electrical action
This discovery is one of the results
of the most remarkable series of ex-
periments ever made to determine
the electro-activity of the human or
ganism. Prof Albert j. Atkins, who,
as professor of physiology in the Cali
fornia Medical school, has for eight
years applied himself diligently to
research in this line, is the man who
establishes the principle set forth.
Colonel E. P. Richardson, recently
sanitary foreman of Refugee Camp
No. 5, was the subject He submitted
to every proposition made by the pro-
lessor in the interest of science. He
swallowed two tubes, which contained
copper wire and were fitted at each
end with platinum caps, which came
in contact with the walls of his stom-
ach.
A microphone-a highly delicate in
strument for the recording of sound
was placed against the subjects flesh
pressed in tightly. The instrument
was charged very slightly with cleo
tricity, in order to accentuate the vol
ume of sound recorded by it. But
electricity never once came into ac-
tual contact with the colonel's body.
Not a single mechanical instrument
not single cell discharging electric
ity was used excepting those neces-
sary for the operation of the micro
phone.
Yet, no sooner had the platinum of
the two tubes come into contact with
the walls of the stomach than electric
ity literally flowed from the colonels
body, and its strength was recorded
by the microphone, the scientists be-
ing able to Judge, by the agitation, the
volume of electrical energy eXuded
The wires connected with the instru-
ment transmitted distinctly marked
sound waves. The Western galyanom-
eter employed shot its needle up to
fifteen millivolts, and then caused it
to drop to seven, alternating between
these two figures.
A millivolt is the one-thousandth
part of volt. Two thousand volts
will DESTROY the life of a human being
Using Colonel Richardson's inter
nal electricity in the manner de-
scribed the slight sounds produced in
the microphone were successfully
transmitted to listening ears by
means of the copper wire and tele
phone receiver.
The electricity produced by the hui
man stomach was due entirely to
chemical action, the stomach being
the battery that generated the cur
rent, and the power, as generated, on
the galvanometer, was about the
same as is manifested in the receiv-
ing of a wireless telegraph message
One of the most notable results of the
experiments was the variation in the
galvanometer's registration after a
large dose of whiskey had been given
to Colonel Richardson, the man sup
plying the animal electricity.
Under normal conditions the high
est millivoltage had been seven.
Il have found by experiments on
myself" said DR.. Harvey, that it re-
Quires ten minutes for a dose of whis
key to obtain it's maximum effect of
stimulation"
Dr. Harvey and others held their
watches, and when the ten-minute
point was reached the galvanometer
recorded fifteen millevolts. That was
the highest point reached-San Fran
cisco Correspondence of the New
York American.