32 DEFENSIVE FERMENTS OF THE ANIMAL ORGANISM 



increased, but also, without doubt, the mutual 

 influence of different kinds of cells, by means of 

 certain secretions, would be much hindered. And 

 not infrequently we should find, that some substance, 

 that was quite specific in its structure, would be 

 caught up by disharmonious substances circulating 

 in the blood, and would be either altered or com- 

 pletely annihilated. In a short time the extra- 

 ordinarily delicate regulation of the general meta- 

 bolism would be thrown out of gear, and all kinds 

 of injuries would inevitably result. The intermediate 

 products in particular, which may vary in any given 

 case, would give rise to disturbances. 



The cell, as has already been mentioned, always 

 works by degrees, for it is quite incapable of suddenly 

 decomposing a complicated molecule, and of directly 

 transforming it by means of combustion into its final 

 products. The cell builds step by step, and so pre- 

 serves the equilibrium of its energic metabolism. 

 The rapid combustion of albumen, fats, and poly- 

 saccharides would, in certain places, suddenly pro- 

 duce a great deal of energy, which would appear in the 

 form of heat, and under certain circumstances would 

 destroy the life of the cell itself. In consequence, the 

 gradual acquisition of the energic contents of the 

 food is of the greatest value for the maintenance of 

 all the finely graded processes of metabolism, as well 

 as for the functions of the individual cell ; while, on 



