VOL. LXXXV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TKANSACTIONS. 525 



of showing them the result of my own experiments ; and as far as these will 

 allow me, to convince by ocular demonstration, though I should fail to persuade 

 by argument. 



The 3 figures, (1, 2, 3j pi. 6), are taken from preparations now in the author's possession, being 

 the result of some of tlie experiments related in the paper. In each figure the nerve is represented 

 in connection with the carotid artery, to which it naturally adheres by cellular membrane. In fig. 1, 

 A is the carotid artery, b, one of the nerves of the 8th pair, c, the part where the first division 

 was made, as it appeared after 19 months, d, the part wliere tlie 2d division was made, and from 

 which the dog died on the 2d day. 



Fig. 2. A and b, the carotid artery and nerve of the opposite side, c, the union which followed 

 the first division, forming a swell like a ganglion, d, the 2d division, made 2 days before death. 



Fig. 3. The same nerve cut open, a, b, c, bristles to keep the cut surfaces asunder. 



f^III. The Croonian Lecture on Muscular Motion. By Everard Home, Esq. 



F. R. S. p. 202. 



When I recollect the many learned men who have given this lecture, I cannot 

 but feel myself much flattered by the honour of being named to that office ; I 

 feel, at the same time, my own inability to explain many of the phenomena of 

 muscular motion ; yet more its principle, the subject to which this lecture was 

 originally confined. The many, and perhaps insuperable difficulties, which ob- 

 struct our progress towards that knowledge, have led the ablest anatomists and 

 physiologists, who have been called on by the r. s. for their observations on 

 muscular motion, to deviate from the original intention of the founder, and in- 

 stead of attempting an investigation of the principle, to explain the anatomical 

 structure, and various phenomena of muscles with which they were acquainted ; 

 that by this means they might furnish data for future inqCK^ies. I shall consider 

 the example of such men as sufficient authority for not confining myself too 

 closely to the subject prescribed ; and content myself with giving such facts and 

 observations respecting muscles, as have not, I believe, been yet laid before 

 this Society. This lecture was given for several years by Mr. Hunter, who still 

 continues to prosecute the subject ; and should the following observations con- 

 tain any new materials, it is from that source that many of them are derived : 

 for in my peculiar situation, I should little merit the honourable task assigned to 

 me, were I not to avail myself of every advantage in my power, that could make 

 the present lecture worthy the attention of this learned audience. 



The principle of action in an animal appears to be as extensive as life itself; 

 and is almost the only criterion by which we can distinguish living matter from 

 dead. This action does not seem to depend so much on structure as on a pro- 

 perty connected with life, which is equally extensive in its principle, and so far 

 as we are yet acquainted, equally concealed from the researches of human saga- 

 city. To acquire a sufficiently enlarged notion of this principle, we must not 

 confine our inquiries to one set of animals, but must take into our view the 



