496 



Prof. C. S. Sherrington. 



[Jan. 31, 



Fig. 9. — Myograph record of reflex contraction of extensor of knee interrupted by a reflex 

 inhibition (relaxation). The reflex contraction was induced by stimulation (unipolar 

 faradisation) of the skin of the opposite foot : this stimulation was applied during the 

 time marked by the lower signal ; its movements of commencement and ending are 

 marked by abscissae on the myogram. Towards the height of the reflex contraction 

 a brief stimulation (unipolar faradisation) was applied to the skin of the foot 

 homonymous with the knee extensor yielding the myogram : the duration of this 

 inhibiting stimulus is marked by the upper signal. The knee extensor at outset was 

 in some tonic contraction due to " decerebrate rigidity." The reflex inhibition relaxes 

 this in addition to inhibiting the current reflex from the crossed foot. On return 

 of the reflex subsequent to its inhibition there is distinct increase in the height of 

 the reflex contraction as compared with the height of contraction immediately prior 

 to the inhibition. Time is marked below in fifths of second. 



