JACQUES LOEB 245 



periodic table Na occupies a position between K and Li it is inferred 

 that the Li and K ions deviate in their physiological action in the 

 opposite direction from the Na ion, 



3. These data indicate that the behavior of the K ion in antagonistic 

 salt action (which forms the basis of the physiologically balanced ac- 

 tion of ions) is due to its purely chemical character, i.e. its position in 

 the periodic table or rather to its atomic number, and not to those 

 explosions in its nucleus which give rise to a trace of radioactivity. 



