Ether and Energy in Evolution of Matter 15 



zation is effected with least expenditure of energy, though it 

 requires considerable expenditure of energy for its disruption. 

 By such action practically all of the earth's crust was formed, 

 so that such rocks as the granites, gneisses, schists, and sedi- 

 mentary strata show crystalline structure. 



When subjected to chemical, physical, or microscopic exam- 

 ination, such crystalHne compounds are proved to be made up 

 of crystal constituents, each of which shows definite faces, 

 angles, and affinities that confer definable characters on the 

 mass. These constituent crystals again owe such properties 

 to the molecules of wliich they are built up. From their be- 

 havior again these molecules are evidently of small size, are 

 incapable of resolution even by the highest powers of the 

 microscope, are relatively stable when combined with each 

 other, can all pass by dialysis — though with varying degrees 

 of rapidity — through parchment membranes when in solution, 

 have a relatively high osmotic pressure, and show a relatively 

 small degree of mobility. 



But, from the biological standpoint, special interest attaches 

 to the group that was first carefully investigated by Graham, 

 and which is kno^Ti as the non-cry stalHne or colloid bodies. 

 Though our minuter knowledge of them dates back only for 

 50 years, it is not too much to say that their study gives promise 

 of most fruitful results, in the explication of organic compounds 

 and of their life phenomena. Each passing year also adds 

 to their number, and to the information gained regarding 

 them. Such "elementary" metals as gold, silver, platinum, 

 bismuth, lead, and iron, when electric energy is spent on them 

 in presence of water or other appropriate liquid, become changed 

 into a substance that has a uniform aspect, and relatively 

 thin consistence, if the liquid be in sufficient quantity. But 

 with increasing condensation the mass becomes a jelly that 

 may vary from dull white — like white of egg — to dark brown 

 as in colloid bismuth {17: 425). 



Again the colloid sesquioxide of iron — abundant in waters 

 of the later archsean or laurentian period, as it still frequently 

 is in recent lagoons — has the dark red color of venous blood, 



