CULTURAL VALUES OF PHYSICS — DIETZ 147 



of the heart that keeps the blood in circulation, the rhythmic motion 

 of the lungs that supplies oxygen to the blood stream, the complex 

 chemical activities of the digestive apparatus and other organs. 

 More recently they have learned something about the living drug 

 factories, the ductless glands, and about the electrochemical messages 

 that flow along the nerve fibers. 



But new experiments, applying the latest discoveries of atomic 

 physics to the problems of physiology, have disclosed a veritable 

 cyclone of activity within the human body such as was never before 

 suspected. The recent discovery of artificial radioactivity has made 

 possible these new findings. 



At the Harvard Tercentenary Conference, Prof. August Krogh (8), 

 the distinguished biologist of the University of Copenhagen, reported 

 experiments in which radioactive phosphorus was fed to rats. He 

 reported that within a short time this radioactive phosphorus had 

 left the blood, exchanging places with the ordinary phosphorus of 

 the tissues. This exchange involved the muscles and other organs. 

 Even more astounding, he said, was the fact that this radioactive 

 phosphorus found its ways into the bones and teeth. He believes, 

 therefore, that we must change our views of the structure of living 

 organisms, accepting a constant movement of atoms within it such 

 as was never previously pictured. 



It is interesting to speculate what life may be like when our 

 knowledge of the chemistry and physics of the human body has 

 become so great as to give us such control over it as is undreamed 

 of today. 



Perhaps the tme is coming when it will be possible to make a 

 hormone survey of the growing child. A few drops of his blood, 

 carefully extracted from a pinprick in a finger, placed in a test tube 

 and sent to the laboratory for analysis, may reveal far more about 

 the child than any present-day method. Perhaps by that day, the 

 physician will also possess sufficient knowledge to act upon what the 

 analysis will show. 



Who can say how successful these methods may prove eventually ? 

 Perhaps the muscles of the strongest child are the rightful heritage 

 of every child, the keenest brain the bii-thright of every infant. 



The whole world is thrilled when a youthful Yehudi Menuhin 

 strides out upon the concert stage, playing the works of Beethoven 

 and Brahms with the brilliant understanding of a mature genius. 

 The whole world stares in amazement when an 8-year-old boy turns 

 out to be a "marvel" at chess, playing 50 simultaneous matches against 

 masters of tlie game and winning them all. 



Perhaps the genius tliat makes a Yehudi Menuhin or a chess 

 marvel lurks within every child. 



280256 — Jl 11 



