548 CRILE— THEORY OF PROCESSES. 



many other bio-physicists, we propose to offer further evidence in 

 support of the hypothesis that man is an electro-chemical mechanism, 

 as gained, first, from a general consideration of the structure and 

 arrangement of the central nervous system; second, from laboratory 

 findings ; and third, from observations and experience in the clinic. 



Structure and Arrangement of the Central Nervous System. 



The nerve cell consists of two highly differentiated parts, the 

 nucleus and the cell body, which are separated from each other by 

 a semi-permeable membrane. Sir Frederick Mott has "shown that 

 the so-called Nissl bodies during life are globules covered by a 

 lipoid film on which oxidation occurs. The nucleus and the cell- 

 body cannot be sharply stained with the same stain, but differential 

 stains are required. This fact indicates a difference between the 

 composition and function of these two parts of the cell. Two 

 colloidal solutions, one acid and the other neutral or alkaline, 

 separated by a semi-permeable membrane, constitute a battery. 

 The nerve cell, therefore, is a battery. Electricity travels from 

 areas of higher to areas of lower potential. In the animal organism 

 the nerve-cell batteries are connected by microscopically fine pro- 

 longations of the nerve cells. Constant discharge of the artificial 

 electric battery used in the laboratory is prevented by " make and 

 break " keys; constant discharge of the nerve-cell battery is pre- 

 vented by a " make and break " mechanism called a synapse. 



According to this hypothesis, the unit structure of animals con- 

 sists of a nerve-cell battery (or electric cell), its prolongation or 

 nerve fiber to the synapse or key, the connecting nerve fiber from 

 the synapse to the muscle cell or gland, by whose discharge upon 

 receipt of an electric current from the nerve-cell battery, action is 

 effected. Electricity alone can close the synoptic " key," complete 

 the circuit and fire the " charge." 



General and Laboratory Observations of the Electro- 

 Chemical Reactions of the Organism. 



If we are correct in assuming that each nerve-muscle and each 

 nerve-gland unit is a part of a biologic electro-chemical system, 

 all of which collectively make up the organism, then we would expect 



