162 WHAT 18 LIFE 



elementary units recombine to form an intraatomic 

 system, the Z-system, to which "X" qualities must 

 be assigned. 



Though I was forced to the conception by data 

 supplied by atomic physics, it hardly needs to be 

 pointed out that this concept is not included in to- 

 day's teachings of atomic physics. Atomic physics 

 treats of the constitution of the atom. It concerns 

 itself with the "how?" of the combination of positive 

 and negative electrons to form matter. But atomic 

 physics has not treated of the combination of 

 elementary units (dissociation "products") into 

 complexes, or structures, within matter. Thus the 

 theory for the first time shows the need of and 

 advances the concept of other patterns of com- 

 bination of ultimate units, and shows the need for 

 physical laboratory research concerning the exis- 

 tence of any such other forms. 



VI. The statement of the general law of the struc- 

 ture of living matter; the law of the dual, atomic- 

 intraatomic, system. 



This law is, I hold, the basic and invariable general 

 law of the constitution of living beings on the 

 earth. Certainly, the law is not an immutable (in 

 the sense of "eternal") law; since life has not 

 always flourished upon the earth. The general law 

 of the structure of living matter is, like all other 



