On the Nature of Muscular Contraction. 411 



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March 14, 1895. 

 The LORD KELVIN, D.C.L., LLD., President, in the Chair. 



A List of the Presents received was laid on the table, and thanks 

 ordered for them. 



The Croonian Lecture was delivered as follows : 



CROONIAN LECTURE. " On the Nature of Muscular Contrac- 

 tion." By TH. W. ENGELMANN, Professor of Physiology 

 in the University of Utrecht. Received February 25, 

 1895. 



I beg your kind attention for a few moments to some observations 

 and considerations on the nature of muscular contraction. Besides its 

 general biological interest, the subject may claim a particular interest 

 for the members of this Society, for the venerable institution of these- 

 Croonian Lectures is especially devoted to the furtherance of the 

 study of muscular life, and. moreover, the Royal Society has, through 

 its Fellows, from Robert Hooke down to our friend Professor Schaf er, 

 produced numerous researches on muscular structure and action which 

 may be said to belong to the most valuable part of our scientific 

 property. 



It will not be my task to recall fco your mind all those eminent 

 Fellows of this Society who have helped us to get a clearer insight 

 into this subject, yet I cannot refrain from reminding you of one of 

 these men, who is honoured throughout the whole world as one of 



