Relations and Transformations of Energy 39 



semi-organic molecules can continuously absorb all constituents 

 needed, and utilize these, for their ovra increase and for energy 

 expenditures. But in the behavior alike of emulsoid to sus- 

 pensoid colloids (p. 17), and of different emulsoids in being 

 coagulated by neutral salts, and again undergoing reversible 

 solution in pure water (19: 229), we have examples, made 

 up of many known cases of colloid interactions, wliich, though 

 relatively simple, all point to wide possible variations in action 

 and reaction, as well as of solution growth. 



But Macallum (27: 436) has well observed that, in seeking 

 "to explain the origin of life, we do not require to postulate 

 a highly complex organism such as we can see even vdih the 

 low power of the microscope, as being the primal parent of 

 all, but rather one which consists of a few molecules only and 

 of such a size that it is beyond the limits of vision with the 

 highest powers of the microscope. Such an organism would 

 be the smallest unit of life and it might be supposed that pro- 

 toplasm arose from aggregation of such units, each more or 

 less differentiated from its fellows, just as the higher or multi- 

 cellular forms of life have arisen by aggregation of cells which 

 have differentiated more or less, thus giving rise to differences 

 of function in the different parts." 



But some of the osmotic growths described by Leduc are 

 as striking as they are indicative in character, for they demon- 

 strate a capacity for absorption, for growth, and for form- 

 modification that only finds a near parallel in cellular plants. 

 Thus if a fragment of CaClg be placed in a flat glass vessel that 

 contains a solution of potassium carbonate (76 parts), sodium 

 sulphate (20 parts), and tribasic potassium phosphate (4 parts) : 

 "the calcium chloride surrounds itself v^'iih. an osmotic mem- 

 brane; water penetrates into the interior of the cell thus formed, 

 and a beautiful transparent spherical cell is the result, the 

 summit of which soon emerges from the shallow liquid. The 

 cell continues to increase by absorption of the licpiid at its 

 base, and may grow up out of the liquid into the air for as much 

 as one or two centimeters. 



"This is a most impressive spectacle, an osmotic production, 

 half aquatic and half aerial, absorbing water and salts by its 



