Papers relating to the artificial torpedo experiments

This file contains records relating to Henry Cavendish's experiments in the articifical torpedo, a type of electrical eel. Cavendish sough to establish that the shock felt when touching the animal was made by an electrical charge. His findings were publsihed in his paper "An account of Some attempts to Imitate the Effects of the Torpedo by Electricity" in "Philosophial Transactions" 31 December 1776 Vol. 66.

The file is enclosed in a covering note on which is written by William Snow Harris: "No 20 the date of these experiments May. June July 1775 Experiments relative to the Torpedo this is probably the Basis of the Paper in the Phil. Transactions in 1776 Vol LXVI page 196 the particular experiments are here in minute detail which in the Printed Paper are more generally described Also A Paper containing Extracts from Experimental Paper on the Electrical Eel by Dr Williamson". Written at the top of the covering note in red pen is "No 19".