Second-order scalar-tensor field equations in a four-dimensional space

Lagrange scalar densities which are concomitants of a pseudo-Riemannian metric-tensor, a scalar field and their derivatives of arbitrary order are considered. The most general second-order Euler-Lagrange tensors derivable from such a Lagrangian in a four-dimensional space are constructed, and it is shown that these Euler-Lagrange tensors may be obtained from a Lagrangian which is at most of second order in the derivatives of the field functions.