536 OSTERHOUT— DYNAMICAL THEORY OF ANTAGONISM. 



increase and then decrease. The rate of increase and decrease and 

 the maximum attained will depend on the relation between the two 

 outlets K^ and Ko. We may suppose that if A'^ is equal to Kn we 

 get the upper curve shown in the figure, while if K^ is less than K2 

 we get the lower curve (in the latter case both constants are sup- 

 posed to be smaller than in the former). This is analogous to what 

 occurs in the reaction A-^M -^ B if /v^ is the velocity constant of 

 A -^ M and A'o is the velocity constant of M —^B. 



-K. 



n 



Fig. 2. Diagram illustrating consecutive reactions in which a substance 

 M is formed by the reaction A — > A/ and decomposed by the reaction M -^B. 

 Explanation in text. 



We find that the resistance of the tissue likewise increases to a 

 maximum and then decreases. If we assume that the resistance of 

 the protoplasm is due to a substance" M we can calculate the rate at 

 which the resistance will increase and decrease with any given values 

 of /Ci and K^. 



If we suppose that in sea water the substance M results from the 

 decomposition of A., which is in turn formed at a constant rate, the 

 amount of M will be constant (after equilibrium has once been 



^ Instead of a substance we might assume that M is a physical state or a 

 mixture provided it fulfilled the necessary conditions of formation and dis- 

 appearance. 



