220 The Mammalian Spinal Cord as an Organ of Reflex Action. 



April 1, 1897. 



The LORD LISTER, F.R.C.S., D.C.L., President, in the Chair. 



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

 ordered for them- 



Professor Johannes Wislicenus was balloted for and elected a 

 Foreign Member of the Society. 



The Croontan Lecture, " The Mammalian Spinal Cord as an Organ 

 of Reflex Action," was delivered by Dr. C. S. Sherrington, 

 F.R.S. 



Crooniax Lecture. — " The Mammalian Spinal Cord as an 

 Organ of Reflex Action." By C. S. Sherrington, M.A., 

 M.D., F.R.S., Holt Professor of Physiology, University 

 College, Liverpool. 



(Abstract.) 



The channels of connection between spinal nerve-centres. 



Long spinal reflex paths and short spinal reflex paths. 



The First Law of Pfliiger : examples of it and exceptions to it ; 

 relation between it and microscopical features of the cord. 



The Second Law of Pfliiger : examples of it and exceptions to it ; 

 the crossed knee jerk. 



The Third Law of Pfliiger : examples of it and exceptions to it. 



The Fourth Law of Pfliiger : examples of it and exceptions to it ; 

 influence of semisection upon the conductions. 



The contradistinction drawn between spinal reflexes and cortical 

 reactions. 



The interpretation of purposive character of spinal reflexes. 

 Relation of the reflexes to progression. 



The solidarity of the isolated spinal cord as a " reflex " organ. 

 Some characters of spinal reflex movements. 



Changes induced in reflex actions by shifting the site of transection 

 from upper bulbar to infra bulbar situations, 



The correlation augmentations with inhibitions. 



Influence of the afferent spinal root on willed movements, on cor- 

 tical reactions, on tonus, on rigor mortis, on knee jerk. Areal 

 induction (simultaneous contrast) as a spinal phenomenon. Influence 

 of afferent roots on spasm, on spinal reflexes. 



