THE ORGANISM 65 



The chemical substances of which Hving matter 

 is made up are grouped under five heads: 



1. Water, and other inorganic materials. 



2. Carbohydrates. About one per cent. (Petti- 

 bone.) 



3. Proteins. iiVbout fifteen per cent. 



4. Fats, and related compounds. About fifteen 

 per cent. 



5. Various water soluble compounds. Less than 

 one per cent. 



Concerning the chemistry of living matter, Jacques 

 Loeb makes the broad statement: "Today everyone 

 who is familiar with the field of chemical biology 

 acknowledges the fact that the chemistry of living 

 matter is not specifically different from the chemistry 

 of the laboratory."^ Again: "No variables are found 

 in the chemical dynamics of living matter which 

 cannot be found also in the chemistry of inanimate 

 nature." 



Of utmost importance to the organism are the 

 numerous enzymes (ferments). The action of an 

 enzyme is of extreme specificity, but the constitu- 

 tions of enzymes are unknown. Until recently, the 

 most advanced research had succeeded in specific 

 cases in separating an enzyme that in its approx- 

 imation to purity exceeded former preparations nearly 



^ Dynamics of Living Matter, \, 



