The Causes and Course of 

 Organic Evolution 



CHAPTER I 



ETHER AND ENERGY IN THE EVOLUTION OF 



MATTER 



In many recent treatises on physical and physiological phe- 

 nomena, all cosmic changes have been considered to be due to 

 the existence and interrelation of two great factors, matter 

 and energy. From the discoveries mainly of the past century 

 the former was viewed as being composed of discrete particles 

 or atoms that belonged to some one of about 70 elements, that 

 were truly ultimate and elemental in their nature. Hydrogen, 

 oxygen, mercury, potassium, carbon, and iron might be cited 

 as examples. Such were regarded as passive or inert in them- 

 selves, but J OTvdng to the all-pervading presence and activity 

 of some form of energy, the atoms were supposed to be in con- 

 stant motion. Their relation to each other and degree of 

 motion, however, might vary greatly according as the atoms 

 were in a gaseous, a liquid, or a solid state. 



Further, such atoms might unite with each other in definite 

 combining proportions, and with definite interchanges of energy, 

 to form more complex bodies or molecules. Water (HgO), 

 carbonate of lime (CaCOg), and sodium phosphate (Na2HP04) 

 might be named as types. 



The energy that gave rise to such activities and changes 

 was considered to exist under several conditions, such as heat, 

 light, chemical affinity, or electricity. These energies, however, 



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