_ The venereal orgasm of birds and
quadrupeds commences or returns about the vernal or autumnal equinoxes, and
thence seems in respect to their great periods to be governed by solar
influence. But if this orgasm be disappointed of its object, it is said to
recur at about monthly periods, as observed in mares and bitches in this
respect resembling the female catamenia. See Sect. XXXVI. 2. 3. and Sect.
XVI. 13.

5. _Brachii concussio electrica._ The movement of the arm, even of a
paralytic patient, when an electric shock is passed through it, is owing to
the stimulus of the excess of electricity. When a piece of zinc and silver,
each about the size of a crown-piece, are placed one under the upper lip,
and the other on the tongue, so as the outer edges may be brought into
contact, there is an appearance of light in the eyes, as often as the outer
edges of these metals are brought into contact or separated; which is
another instance of the stimulus of the passage of electric shocks through
the fibres of the organs of sense, as well as through the muscular fibres.
See Sect. XII. 1. 1. and first addit. note to Vol. I. of this work. But in
its natural state electricity seems only to act as an influence on animal
and vegetable bodies; of the salutary or injurious effects of which we have
yet no precise knowledge.

Yet if regular journals were kept of the variations of atmospheric
electricity, it is probable some discoveries of its influence on our system
might in time be discovered. For this purpose a machine on the principle of
Mr. Bennet's electric doubler might be applied to the pendulum of a clock,
so as to manifest, and even to record the daily or hourly variations of
aerial electricity. Which has already been executed, and applied to the
pendulum of a Dutch wooden clock, by Mr. Bennet, curate of Wirksworth in
Derbyshire.

Besides the variations of the degree or kind of atmospheric electricity,
some animals, and some men, seem to possess a greater power of accumulating
this fluid in themselves than others. Of which a famous history of a
Russian prince was lately published; who, during the clear and severe
frosts of that country, could not move himself in bed without luminous
corruscations. Such may have been the case of those people, who have been
related to have taken fire spontaneously, and to have been reduced to
ashes. The electric concussion from the gymnotus electricus, and torpedo,
are other instances of the power