812 REPORT— 1897. 



2. The Lateral Line. — Simple cutting- of the lateral nerve or destruction of 

 the lateral organs does not seem to aftect equilibrium. But destruction of th& 

 organs, combined with removal of tlu pectoral and pelvic fins, causes marked 

 lack of equilibrium, manifested by uncertain, ill-regulated movements ; removal of 

 fins alone has no pronounced effect. Central stimulation of the lateral nerve 

 causes the same compensating movements of the fins as does stimulation of the 

 acoustic of the opposite side. These results make it probable that the organs of 

 the lateral line are equilibrative in function, and are employed in the recognition 

 of currents in the water and of movements of the body through the water. The 

 results of Bonnier and of Fuchs are in harmony with this. 



This was probably the primitive function. By the inclosure within the skull 

 of a bit of the lateral line and the differentiation and refinement of its sense-organs, 

 a more perfect organ of appreciation of movement, and hence of equilibrium, was 

 evolved in the ear. Along with the appearance of land animals a portion of this 

 organ became still more differentiated and refined and, as the papilla acustica 

 hasilaris, acquired the power of appreciating the movements that we call sound. 

 Thus equilibration and audition became associated in the same organ. 



5, On the Effect of Frequency of Excitations on the Contractility of 

 Muscle. By Professor W. P. Lombard. 



6. A Dynamometric Study of the Strength of the Several Gronjjs of 

 Mttscles, and the Relation of Corresponding Homologous Groups of 

 Muscles in Man. By 3. H. Kellogg, M.D. 



In the Paper the author describes a new dynamometer so constructed that it 

 may be conveniently employed in testing the strength of each of the important 

 groups of muscles in the body. By means of this apparatus charts have been pre- 

 pared whereby the strength of each muscular group in the individual may be com- 

 pared with the strength of those of the average man or the average woman-, or the 

 average man or woman of the same height. 



By a study of the tabulated results of several thousand examinations the 

 author has been able to formulate a series of new physical coefficients, the chief of 

 ■which are the following :— 



1. The strength-weight coefficient is obtained by dividing the total strength 

 in kilograms by the weight in kilograms, the result showing the number of kilo- 

 grams which a person is able to lift for each kilogram of his own weight. This- 

 coefficient expresses the dynamic value or capacity of a person's body. 



2- The respiratory-weight coefficient, obtained by multiplying the lung capa- 

 city in litres as shown by the spirometer, by the respiratory strength in kilograms, 

 and dividing the result by the body weight in kilograms. This coefficient expresses 

 the respiratory capacity for each kilogram. 



3. The strength-height coefficient, obtained by dividing the total strength in 

 kilograms by the total height in millimetres. This coefficient expresses the number 

 of kilograms which an individual is able to lift for each millimetre in height. 



4. The respiratory-height coefficient, obtained by multiplying the lung capacity 

 in litres by the respiratory strength in kilograms and dividing by the height in 

 millimetres. This coefficient represents the respiratory capacity of the individual 

 for each millimetre in height. 



5. The coefficient of vital efficiency, obtained by dividing the respiratory- 

 weight coefficient by the strength-weight coefficient. This coefficient combines 

 m one expression the relations represented by the respiratory-weight and the 

 strength-weight coefficients, and represents the relation of a person's respiratory 

 capacity to his working capacity. 



_ 6. The coefficient of vital development, obtained by dividing the respiratory- 

 height by the strength-height coefficient, which combines in one expression the 



