THEORY OF LIFE 139 



conditions may be due to lack of the presence of 

 suitable elements or the presence of injurious ele- 

 ments, to temperature too high or too low, or to 

 unsuitable pressure conditions. 



Then, too, there is the contingency that the 

 pattern, or constitution, of the Z-system, first having 

 resulted in the organization of a complex Y-system, 

 which is a strictly limited chemical system, permits 

 of only a limited series of reactions of the Z-system 

 with the Y"System, the end of these reactions having 

 been reached, separation of the systems follows. 



Also, of course, anything that destroys the equi- 

 librium between the Z-system and the Y-system will 

 cause a disruption and separation of the two systems, 

 and the cessation of the process. 



The equilibrium between the two systems of the 

 dual-system easily would be destroyed by electrical, 

 chemical, thermal, or mechanical agency; and the 

 destruction of the equilibrium and the disruption of 

 the dual-system may be caused by a sudden happen- 

 ing or it may be the final effect of slow-working 

 causes. 



There are then various main sets of balancing 

 processes involved: 



1. The equilibrium between the Z-system and the 

 Y-system (maintenance of the Y-plus system, or 

 dual-system). 



