AWAKENING OF POND LIFE 97 



but bacteria may persist for a considerable time. No very 

 satisfactory explanation of this phenomenon has been forth- 

 coming as yet, but I think that, considered in the light of recent 

 researches, the point becomes intelligible. H. C. Ross dis- 

 covered the fact that cells possess what is termed a Coefficient 

 of Diffusion (2). This is measured by estimating the number of 

 units of stain alkali, etc., contained in the jelly film on which 

 the cells are placed, after subtraction of the units of salts 

 present, and by adding the units of heat and time requisite to 

 cause staining of the nucleus. The fact that all cells possess 

 this coefficient of diffusion shows that the medium on which 

 they are living must have the necessary index of diffusion before 

 absorption takes place. It is therefore obvious that supposing 

 an organism to possess a coefficient of diffusion of, say, 20, it 

 would not tend to multiply in an infusion till the fluid possessed 

 the necessary index, time and temperature, of course, being taken 

 into account. The coefficient of diffusion varies greatly in 

 different organisms, and, therefore, supposing two organisms 

 find their way into an infusion, the one possessing the lower 

 coefficient will multiply sooner than the one having the higher. 

 Finally a time might arrive when all the auxetic in the infusion 

 would be used up and development would then cease. 



A further important point arises — viz. the great awakening 

 of life in springtime. Several theories have from time to time 

 been put forward such as increase in temperature, or an extra 

 amount of actinic rays from the sun, but none of these ex- 

 planations really meet the case. Now supposing it to be 

 demonstrated that an increase in either the auxetics or kinetics 

 or both took place towards spring in, let us say, pond water, we 

 should at once have an explanation of that awakening of life in 

 ponds which occurs in spring ; and, as it would be unlikely that 

 such an important phenomenon would have more than one 

 cause, we might reasonably conclude that the general develop- 

 ment of life in spring was also occasioned by an increase in the 

 auxetics and kinetics in the soil. I therefore determined to con- 

 duct a prolonged research to settle the following points. Firstly, 

 whether auxetics and kinetics do occur in pond water. 

 Secondly, whether there is any variation in the amount of these 

 bodies, supposing that they existed, and especially whether the 

 quantity increased as spring approached. Samples of water 

 from different ponds in various districts were therefore ex- 

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