x PREFACE 



rigor of thermodynamics is sacrificed in favor of the development of a useful 

 impression containing the necessary relationships: and these are illustrated. 

 The electromagnetic spectrum (Chapter 4) and the matter wave spectrum 

 (Chapter 3) are both surveyed, and stress is placed on those fractions which 

 interact with (exchange energy with) biological material. The treatment of 

 the effects of ionizing radiations (Chapter 9) surveys the hierarchy of struc- 

 tures, from effects on simple molecules rrght up the scale to man. The 

 unified treatment of speeds (Chapter 8) attempts to show similarities and 

 differences of mechanisms among all rate processes: chemical reactions 

 (catalyzed), fluid flow, diffusions, and electrical and heat conductance. 

 The apparatus of physical control is described in Chapter 10; and in Chap- 

 ter 11 the bases of control biophysics are introduced in terms which attempt 

 to span the bridge between computer technology and brain mechanisms. 

 The author has not hesitated to introduce a difficult concept if it would 

 later serve a useful purpose, but has tried to get the reader through it in a 

 simple manner. 



Because the scope is so broad, depth in every part of the subject could not 

 be achieved in a book of this size. However, the bibliography is substantial, 

 and further reading is explicitly suggested in those cases where the proper 

 direction is not obvious. 



The chief inspiration for this work was the late Dr. Jean Ettori, Associate 

 Professor at the Sorbonne and Professor of Biochemistry at the University of 

 Ottawa. Known to his students as "the man who always had time," he died 

 a hapless victim of cancer in 1961, at the age of 56. This man, who had gifts 

 of vision in the biosciences as well as deep humility and love for his students, 

 introduced the author to this subject and emphasized the need for what he 

 called a "psychological presentation." 



The following colleagues, all specialists in their own right — in chemistry, 

 physics, or the biosciences — read parts of early drafts of the manuscript and 

 made many helpful suggestions: Dr. C. E. Hubley, Prof. A. W. Lawson, 

 Prof. L. L. Langley, Dr. J. F. Scaife, Prof. M. F. Ryan, Dr. S. T. Bayley, Mr. 

 G. D. Kaye, Mr. G. T. Eake, and Dr. G. W. Mainwood. Several other close 

 colleagues helped by catching flaws in the proof. 



Mrs. Lydia (Mion) Labelle and Miss Nadine Sears struggled through the 

 typing of a hand-written manuscript, Miss Sears in the important middle 

 and late stages, and produced something which Mrs. Dorothy Donath of 

 Reinhold could further mold into a finished text. The perceptive Miss 

 Rosemary Maxwell turned out the best of the line drawings, and these in 

 turn illustrate her talent. 



The author has had the encouragement of Dr. J. J. Lussier, Dean of the 

 Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and of Dr. H. Sheffer, Chief 



