My Site
  • ON THE GO!
  • THE EXPERIENCE

Day 158 -> Galvanism

10/25/2013

0 Comments

 
 Imagem
A Galvanized Corpse, a litography by Henry R. Robinson, 1850 (Image found on Library of Congress)
      I love reading about antique scientists and their (sometimes) crazy theories about life and how it works on us humans. Galvanism, in that area, is one of my favorite subjects - and yes, it is partly because I adore Shelley's Frankenstein.
     In medicine, the term "galvanism" refers to any form of medical treatment involving the application of pulses of electric current to body tissues provoking the contraction muscles that are stimulated by the electric current. If you thought about frog legs, you're on the right path. This effect was named by Alessandro Volta after his contemporary, the scientist Luigi Galvani, who investigated the effect of electricity on dissected animals in the 1780's and 1790's. Galvani himself, though, referred to the phenomenon as "animal electricity", believing that he had discovered a distinct form of electricity.
     Before that, Isaac Newton had theorized a link between the "animal spirits" described in antiquity and the subtle electrical fluid hypothesized by physicists. Scientists Caldini and Fontana had realized that merely bringing an electrified rod within their close proximity would stimulate frogs. However, it was Galvani who determined that electricity was present within the animal itself. Based on his frog experiments he deduced that the contractions were caused by the flow of electricity and, when one occurred, a nervo-electric fluid was conducted from the nerves to the muscle.
     Nowadays, the study of galvanic effects is called electrophysiology and the term "galvanism" is only used in historical contexts. I wonder if scientists say "IT'S ALIVE!!!!" everytime they put a current on a dead animal. I know I would!
~Ally
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

     Ally is a Biologist, Illustrator, Photographer and ex-procrastinator.

    Categories

    Todos
    Art
    Astronomy
    Botanic
    Comics
    Curiosities
    Diy
    Documentaries
    Folklore
    Food
    Games
    Geography
    History
    Inspiration
    Literature
    Maps
    Movies
    Music
    Mythology
    Nature
    Physics
    Sports
    Weapons
    Zoology

    Archives

    Abril 2014
    Março 2014
    Fevereiro 2014
    Janeiro 2014
    Dezembro 2013
    Novembro 2013
    Outubro 2013
    Setembro 2013
    Agosto 2013
    Julho 2013
    Junho 2013
    Maio 2013

    RSS Feed


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.