CRILE— THEORY OF PROCESSES. 551 



exertion, intense emotion, etc. That the difference in potential be- 

 tween the nucleus and the cell body is decreased or destroyed in 

 such cases is revealed by the microscope ; and apparently by con- 

 ductivity measurements. 



Since the activity of the organism must change to meet the vary- 

 ing demands of the internal and of the external environment, we 

 would expect to find created within the organism a substance or 

 substances to increase activity, and that the production of these 

 secretions would be controlled by the nervous system, so that the 

 control of varying conditions of activation of the organism may be 

 automatic. The adrenals control oxidation ; the thyroid by control- 

 ling electric conductivity governs the rate of metabolism, and these 

 organs are controlled by the nervous system. 



Since the activity of the organism is accompanied by the produc- 

 tion of acid by-products, we would expect the presence in the or- 

 ganism of an organ whose prime function would be the neutraliza- 

 tion of acids to avoid their accumulation within the cell batteries 

 with a consequent destruction of the acid-alkali balance. This is 

 the prime function of the liver. 



We would expect the organism to be depressed by interference 

 with the physical structure of the cell, especially with the semi-per- 

 meable membranes. That this is the case is strikingly demonstrated 

 by the effects of ether anesthesia. That ether changes permeability 

 has been demonstrated by many physical-chemists. (McClendon, 

 Osterhout, Lillie, Loeb, etc.) 



The effect of heat and cold upon the organism is apparently in 

 harmony with the electro-chemical theory. 



Clinical Evidence. 



In the surgical clinic every degree of imperfection, injury, and 

 impairment of the organism is under observation. If our concep- 

 tion that man is an electro-chemical mechanism is correct, the or- 

 ganism should respond to methods of protection and of restoration 

 which are based upon the laws of physics and of chemistry. 



The electro-chemical theory should explain the action and 

 gauge the safe application of anesthetics ; it should indicate the 

 paramount value of sleep as the only final means of recharging the 



