Place your left hand upon the throat of the cat, and, with the middle
finger and the thumb, press slightly the bones of the animal’s
shoulders; then, if the right hand be gently passed along the back,
perceptible shocks of electricity will be felt in the left hand. Shocks
may also be obtained by touching the tips of the ears after rubbing the
back. If the colour of the cat be black, and the experiment be made in
a dark room, the electric sparks may be very plainly seen.
Very distinct discharges of electricity may also be obtained by
touching the tips of the ears, after applying friction to the back; and
the same may be obtained from the foot. Placing the cat on your knees,
apply your right hand to the back; the left fore paw resting on the
palm of your left hand, apply the thumb to the upper side of the paw,
so as to extend the claws, and, by this means, bring your fore-finger
into contact with one of the bones of the leg, where it joins the paw;
when, from the knob or end of this bone, the finger slightly pressing
on it, you may feel distinctly successive shocks, similar to those
obtained from the ears.
It is, perhaps, unnecessary to add, that, in order to this experiment
being conveniently performed, the experimenter must be on good terms
with the cat.
[Illustration]
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Varied hyphenation was retained.
Page x, “Phenakisticope” changed to “Phenakistiscope” and “Stoboscope”
changed to “Stroboscope” (The Phenakistiscope or Stroboscope) This same
change was also made on page 34 in all-capitals (THE PHENAKISTISCOPE,
OR STROBOSCOPE)
Page xii, “110” changed to “112” for the entry of “The Mysterious
Circles” to match location in text.