Exploring Animal Electricity: The Fascinating Discovery of Galvani in 1771

[genefalk]

I have read that in 1771 physician Luigi Galvani notices that the leg of a dead frog moves when being explored by metal probes. Galvani called this “animal electricity.”

Why does he think that this movement has anything to do with electricity?

 

[phinds]

I have read that in 1771 physician Luigi Galvani notices that the leg of a dead frog moves when being explored by metal probes. Galvani called this “animal electricity.”

Why does he think that this movement has anything to do with electricity?

Why do YOU think he does? Do you think he was wrong?

 

[berkeman]

I have read that in 1771 physician Luigi Galvani notices that the leg of a dead frog moves when being explored by metal probes. Galvani called this “animal electricity.”

Why does he think that this movement has anything to do with electricity?

Further to @phinds question, what was going on in the literature at that time? Probably some experiments with electricity?...

 

[Dadface]

There's a very interesting history associated with that discovery. After being made aware of the discovery Volta started experimenting with different metals and fluids other than those found in frogs and came up with the first practical batteries known as Voltaic piles.
Defibrillators and heart pacemakers are just two things where so called "animal electricity" is used.

 

[phinds]

There's a very interesting history associated with that discovery. After being made aware of the discovery Volta started experimenting with different metals and fluids other than those found in frogs and came up with the first practical batteries known as Voltaic piles.
Defibrillators and heart pacemakers are just two things where so called "animal electricity" is used.

Since the OP has not answered my question or @berkeman's why don't we let him do some research on his own before spoon feeding him stuff ?

 

[phinds]

@genefalk you have been asked questions in two different posts in this thread and I see you have visited the forum since then. It is bad form to avoid questions so how about answers?

 

[genefalk]

@genefalk you have been asked questions in two different posts in this thread and I see you have visited the forum since then. It is bad form to avoid questions so how about answers?

Since the OP has not answered my question or @berkeman's why don't we let him do some research on his own before spoon feeding him stuff ?

Thank you for your kind words. Also, your question was kind of a non-question as it was reposing my question to me. I would not be asking if I knew the answer.

 

[berkeman]

Thank you for your kind words. Also, your question was kind of a non-question as it was reposing my question to me. I would not be asking if I knew the answer.

We do not spoonfeed people here. We expect them to do some reading and research on their own first, and ask questions here when the information at encyclopedia type sites (like wikipedia, hyperphysics, etc.) is not clear to them.

Please do some reading and post links to that reading. And ask specific questions about that reading if you are having trouble understanding it. That's the way the PF works, and it works very well. We try to help folks learn how to learn here...