[Lf] A serious experiment

[hal]

"In 1800 Volta reported placing an electrode in each of his
ears and connecting the two electrodes to a series stack
of electrochemical cells, whose potential was later
estimated at 50 V. He reported hearing "a sound like
a boiling viscid fluid"

 Volta didn't know it but he was within inches of inventing
 electroshock therapy.  Instead, it would have to wait for slaughter
house
workers in the 1920's to notice their electric shocks, design to stun
the animals sensless, sometimes had a calming effect.


--H.