1. In performing some experiments on recently slaughtered animals, for the elucidation of a subject which I was then engaged in investigating, I was struck with the remarkable arched tension of the diaphragm, a condition which continued unabated until air was admitted into the pleural spaces, and then it became flaccid and descended. This altered condition was attended by collapse of the lungs, which receded from the thoracic walls, and occupied a much smaller space than previously. 2. In order to measure the quantity of air expelled from the lungs in the preceding experiment, and to ascertain how far the collapse of the., lungs and the altered condition of the diaphragm were dependent on each other, the following experiment was performed. The trachea of a sheep, immediately after death, was exposed in the neck, divided, and tied over a glass tube, which was put in communication with a graduated receiver placed under water, and guarded by a stopcock. The pleurae were then opened, and as air entered the diaphragm became flaccid; but the lungs remained unchanged in position and form. The stopcock was then opened, and a rush of air, displacing the water in the receiver, was accompanied by collapse of the lungs. The quantity of air thus forcibly expelled was from ten to twelve cubic inches.