Chapter II: Part I: Page

OF THE NATURE AND GENERAL PROPERTIES OF GALVANISM.

PROPOSITION I. _Muscular contractions are excited by the
development of a fluid in the animal machine, which is
conducted from the nerves to the muscles without the
concurrence or action of metals_ 3

PROP. II. _The Galvanism excited, in the preceding experiments,
is not owing to the communication nor to the transfusion of
the general electricity, but to an electricity peculiar to
animals, which acts a very distinguished part in the animal
economy_ 6

PROP. III. _Galvanism develops itself in a powerful manner,
independently of metals, by means of the human animal machine_ 8

PROP. IV. _Muscular contractions can be excited, under certain
conditions, without establishing a continued arc from the
nerves to the muscles_ 11

PROP. V. _The effects of Galvanism, in the preceding
experiments, do not depend on the action of any stimulant,
which occurs in performing the experiments, and ought not to
be confounded with the effects of that action_ 12

PROP. VI. _Galvanism is excited in the animal machine without
any intermediate body, and merely by the application of the
nerves to the muscles_ 14

PROP. VII. _The heterogeneity of metals contributes, in a great
degree, to excite muscular contractions with more facility,
but is not absolutely necessary to their production_ 19

PROP. VIII. _The Leyden flask, the Voltaic pile, and animal
substances, have the faculty of absorbing principles from the
atmospheric air in an insulated plenum_ 21

PROP. IX. Flame _prevents the action of the Leyden flask, as
well as that of the pile, and also muscular contractions_ 27

PROP. X. _Certain fluids, applied to the whole surface of the
pile, or of animal parts, do not prevent the action of
Galvanism_ 29

PROP. XI. _Mere electrization, by means of the common kinds of
apparatus, does not increase the action of Galvanism_ 32

PROP. XII. _The Galvanic action is increased by employing as
part of the arc the apparatus of Volta, or the electrified
Leyden flask_ 34

PROP. XIII. _Galvanism, in animals and in the pile, traverses
large spaces with the same rapidity as the electric fluid_ 36

PROP. XIV. _The muscular contractions, which, according to the
observations of Galvani, are produced by an electric
atmosphere whether natural or artificial, correspond entirely
with those produced by the pile, or by similar kinds of
apparatus_ 37

PROP. XV. _Opium, cinchona, and other stimulants of a similar
kind, which exercise a powerful action on the animal machine,
contribute also to excite the action of the pile_ 41

PROP. XVI. _If the general relation between Galvanism and
electricity be examined, such a correspondence will be found
between them, as tends to confirm the analogy already stated_ 44

PROP. XVII. _The hypothesis of an animal pile, analogous to
that formed artificially, seems well calculated to explain
the sensations and contractions in the animal machine_ 47

PART THE SECOND.

ON THE INFLUENCE WHICH GALVANISM HAS ON THE VITAL POWERS 53

SECTION I. _Galvanism applied to various quadrupeds, birds, and
other warm-blooded animals_ 54

SECTION II. _Experiments made on human bodies after death_ 67