An Apparatus for Measuring the Propulsive Forces of the Locomotory Muscles of the Earthworm and Other Animals

Abstract

A complete picture of the locomotory mechanism of any animal involves a knowledge of the forces required to overcome the external resistance of the animal’s environment. In the case of certain terrestrial animals (the earthworm in particular) it is possible to measure these forces by means of a modified form of the apparatus originally designed by one of us (H. W. L.) for the study of locomotion of the snail.