414 Prof. C. S. -Sheningtou. 



characters of the condition. The details of the results will be given 

 in a fuller paper dealing with the subject. I was prevented from, 

 inquiring thoroughly into the phenomenon when it was first met 

 with ; but in the course of the present summer and autumn the 

 investigation has been systematically undertaken. I will conclude 

 this preliminary note by adding that throughout the observations the 

 animal's respiration remains apparently unaffected by the stimuli 

 effective to produce the various reflexes and inhibitions such as above 

 described. The respiration is tranquil, rather deep, regular, and 

 often somewhat frequent. The animal in all niy experiments has been 

 completely blind, but a sharp conjunctival reflex exists. The knee 

 jerks are elicitable but are not exaggerated. Thetonus of the sphinc- 

 ters appears about normal. The pulse is full, regular, and fairly 

 frequent. 



I have not at present succeeded in evoking the cataleptoid reflex 

 by simply placing the limb in the desired posture. 



In applying the term cataleptoid to these reflexes, I do so because 

 the reflexes recall, in some respects, strikingly certain phases of 

 hypnotic condition, by some writers distinguished as cataleptic, and 

 because the strict significance of the prefix implies a steady main- 

 tenance of possession subsequent to seizure, and is therefore peculiarly 

 applicable here, whether these reflexes be or be not allied to hypnotic 

 catalepsy. 



" On Reciprocal Innervation of Antagonistic Muscles. Third 

 Note." By 0. S. SHERRIXGTON, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., Holt 

 Professor of Physiology, University College, Liverpool. 

 Received December 29, 1896, Read January 21, 1897. 



In a former number* of these c Proceedings ' attention was drawn 

 to a particular form of correlation existing between the activity of 

 antagonistic muscles. In it, one muscle of an antagonistic couple is, 

 it was shown, relaxed in accompaniment with active contraction of 

 its mechanical opponent. The instance then cited was afforded by 

 certain of the extrinsic muscles of the eyeball, but I had previously 

 noted indications of a like arrangement in studying the reflex actions 

 affecting the muscles at the ankle-joint of the frog,f and it seemed 

 probable that the kind of co-operative co-ordination demonstrated for 

 the ocular muscles might be of extended application and occurrent 

 in various motile regions of the body. The observations to be men- 

 tioned below do actually extend this kind of reciprocal innervation 



* Vol. 52. April, 1893. Sherrington. 



t Foster's ' Journ. of Phyeiol.,' TO!. 13, 1892. 



