THE PART PLAYP^D BY ELECTRICITY IN THE PHENOMENA 

 OF ANIMAL LIFE.' 



P>v 1\L Ernest Solvat 



- - - Biological research must be guided iu the directiou of physics 

 and cheinistry, and, in my opinion, we must set out with this profound 

 conviction — that tlie phenomena of life can and should he explained soleli/ 

 by the worJcing of the jjhy steal forces tchich control the material universe, 

 and that among these forces electricity plays a predominant part. 



It is with a view to contribute to the verification and development of 

 this thesis by observation and by study of the facts of experiment that 

 I have determined to found a sj^^cial institute for research. 



I would uow address myself to all those who, in the future, and even 

 after I shall have ceased to live, shall undertake researches in the 

 laboratories which are about to be opened ; I would try to state the 

 character of the answers which I foresee are to be looked for lYom their 

 labors to the great problem, as I umlerstand it, of tlie nature of life. 

 Having meditated nuich upon this i^roblem, I believe that I have found 

 some new points of view which it may be useful to make known to 

 those who enter upon experimental researches in this direction. I aim 

 at establishiug a close correlation among the facts by tracing them back 

 always to the foundation of physical principle. I introduce hypothesis 

 when needful, as a lever, as a toed with which to open a new path for 

 investigation. The future will show to Avhat extent my views are true, 

 or how far I have been mistaken. 



PRINCIPLES OF PIIYSICOCHEMISTRY. 



I. — OF TIIK CONSERVATIOX AND TRANSFORMATION OF KNEKtiY — SPECIFIC CHARACTER 



OF i:lectkical energy. 



We know that in every case of chemical combination the quantity of 

 heat disengaged, with positive or negative vakie, is equal to that which 

 would be necessary and sufficient to decompose into its constituents 



' Extracts from an address delivered by M. EriKsst Solvay, at Brussels, on the 14th 

 of December, 1893, on the occasion of the public ,i;ift to the city of Brussels of tho 

 Institute for Physiological Research, founded by M. Solvay. 



Translated by J. ^V. Mallet. 



437 



