348 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There will probably be considerable doubt expressed as to the value 

 or even the possibility of interpreting microbial or biological processes 

 mathematically. 



As to the value, I desire to call attention to the wonderful evolution 

 in the understanding of chemistry by the introduction of physical, or 

 mathematical chemistry. The exact determination of all factors in- 

 volved gave an entirely new interpretation to chemical reactions. 



As to the possibility, there may be some qu^tion in determining life 

 processes, such as those of bacterial activity, as accurately as a chemical 

 reaction. It is still an open question whether or not life manifestations 

 are a mere physico-chemical process. Our deficient knowledge of chemis- 

 try and the inability of controlling all factors involved have not as yet 

 permitted a definite answer. We assume, however, that under the same 

 phj'sical and chemical conditions the same changes will take place; 

 otherwise, physiological experiments will be useless. The possibility 

 of applying mathematics to bacteriological processes cannot be dis- 

 regarded therefore, if all the conditions involved in them are under 

 control. Difficulties will arise mainly from the inaccurate methods of 

 analyzing the products or counting the bacteria, but the difficulties of a 

 method cannot prevent the use of it to advantage. 



The natural development of all science leads towards an absolutely 

 exact formulation of facts. The physiology of fermentation is one 

 branch of this science. If it is sufficiently advanced to pemiit the appli- 

 cation of mathematics, it will be fitting to make it; if not, the weak 

 points should be pointed out, and the gaps of our knowledge filled. 



DISCUSSION. 



The changes taking place in solutions of organic compounds may be 

 of various natures. The three most common possibilities are: 



i. Purely chemical changes, following the law of Guldberg and 

 Waage. 



2. Purely enzymic processes. 



3. Microbial or biological processes. 



The difference existing in the three processes consists mainly in the 

 behavior of the "active mass." In the purely chemical changes, the 

 active mass is represented by the concentration of the acting substances 

 and decreases as the process goes on. In the saponification of fat by 

 alkali, both fat and alkali decrease by reacting upon each other, and 



