Science progress. 



No. ii. January, 1895. Vol. II. 



PHYSIOLOGICAL ABSORPTION. 



A PLAIN mechanical theory for a process occurring" 

 within a living organism is rightly dear to the heart 

 of the modern physiologist. The hypotheses of such a theory 

 are grasped with great clearness by the mind, a clearness 

 enhanced, too, by contrast with the dark background of mys- 

 ticism formed by the past metaphysical conceptions of Stahl 

 and Whytt. We attempt to explain the phenomena of life 

 on the basis of the knowledge gained by the physicist and 

 chemist, but we essay a hard task ; for if he who deals with 

 inanimate nature must often admit that the conditions under 

 which he works are obscure, how much more is this the case 

 in processes carried out in that tangle of interactions, the 

 living cell ! 



Can we then feel surprised that the regeneration of 

 physiology that has been so evident since the time of 

 Liebig should, in its over-confidence, have somewhat over- 

 stepped the mark, and that in calmer mood we are now 

 becoming convinced that until a clearer insight into the 

 mechanics of the cell has been gained, we cannot hope 

 to grasp the rationale of the simplest processes of the 

 economy ? 



Physiology is in no real danger of again succumbing to 

 the mysticism of " vitalism," and Rindfleisch's expression, 



" neo-vitalismus," is certainly unfortunate, but physiology 



24 



