Montreal Gazette - Ghoulish work laid foundation for neurology

(Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society): Professor Aldini began by swabbing the ears with salt water. He then attached a metal wire to each ear and proceeded to connect these to a battery. Almost immediately the subject's face contorted into a grimace and his eyelids began to flutter uncontrollably. The onlookers were absolutely horrified. Not because the facial expression was particularly scary, but because there was no body attached to the head.