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VIII. The Croonian Lecture on Muscular Motion. By Everard 
Home, Esq. F.R.S. 
Read November 11, 1790. 
W hen 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 phsenomena of muscular mo- 
tion ; 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 upon by 
this learned Society for their observations upon muscular mo- 
tion, to deviate from the original intention of the founder, and 
instead of attempting an investigation of the principle, to ex- 
plain the anatomical structure, and various phenomena of 
muscles with which they were acquainted ; that by this means 
they might furnish data for future inquiries. 
I shall consider the example of such men as sufficient au- 
thority for not confining myself too closely to the subject pre- 
scribed ; and content myself with giving such facts and obser- 
vations respecting muscles, as have not, I believe, been already 
laid before this learned Society. 
This lecture was given for several years by Mr. Hunter, 
