An instrument of new design has been constructed to measure the contractions of the calf musculature resulting from a tap on the Achilles tendon. The instrument provides a predetermined and adjustable dorsiflexing torque from a printed motor, but the contractions are virtually isometric as the system is one of high inertia. Peak force, half-contraction time and half-relaxation time are monitored by electronic circuits equipped with digital output meters. Observations have been made on fifty-two male and forty-five female medical students. There were no significant differences in the peak torques generated by the contractions between the men and women students and no difference in the half-contraction times. The half-relaxation times of the women were, however, significantly longer than those of the men (P = 0.0001). In another group of students the EMG discharges following a tendon tap were recorded, there was no significant difference in the duration of the activity in men and women. Observations have also been made on twenty-three male and seventy female subjects whose mean ages were in the mid-sixties. The peak torques generated by the contractions were significantly higher in the women (P = 0.03). There was no difference in the half-contraction times, but the half-relaxation times of the women were significantly longer (P = 0.001). Possible reasons for the differences are discussed.