234 



The Structure of Protoplasm 



patterns may all be different, but the essential nature of the proto- 

 plasmic rhythm must be the same in all. The basic character of the 

 protoplasmic rhythm is also a simple harmonic function of time. 

 But the protoplasm is not driven by a single rhythm; it is driven 

 by a complexity of rhythms; in short, a plasmodium is polyrhythmic. 



IX. DYNAMICAL ASPECTS OF INTRAPLASMIC CONDITIONS 



It has been stated in the foregoing section, that the motive force 

 responsible for protoplasmic streaming is operated, not by a single 



Fig. 17. 



rhythm, but by a complexity of rhythms having unequal frequencies 

 and magnitudes. It must be noted, however, that the combination 

 of the components, which represent a definite portion of the dynamo- 

 plasmogram, may not represent other portions beyond the limit of 

 time scheme under consideration. Lack of accuracy of the analysis 

 is one reason for this. No general method of analysis is applicable 

 to the curves with which we are mostly concerned. But even if one 

 could analyze a limited portion of a dynamoplasmogram into an exact 

 series of components, the combination of the same components would 

 not represent the same dynamoplasmogram unlimitedly. 



