ABSTRACT
Ancient writings on papyri inform us that electric catsh in the Nile River were used to relieve pain by the Egyptians 4700 years ago. The ancient Greeks used them to numb the pain of childbirth and surgical procedures.1 In his 380 B.C. dialogue Meno, Plato accused Socrates of “stunning people” with his puzzling questions in a manner similar to the way
the torpedo sh stuns or numbs.2 In fact, the word “narcotic” stems from narke, which is the Greek word for these types of electric ray sh.
