BiOTic State of Energy 117 



genous substance, Tvath accompanying exhibition of electric 

 or thermic phenomena, through degradation of the biotic 

 energy. The oxygen atom therefore seems to be that which, 

 by its vibratory action and capacity for becoming attuned or 

 harmonized with other elemental atoms, brings needed supplies 

 of energy to the protoplasmic molecule, and in part uses this 

 with C and H of the molecule for formation of carbon dioxide 

 and water. 



Now such combining or oxidizing action and splitting or 

 catalytic action seem to be constant phenomena of living 

 protoplasm, and proceed often at a relatively rapid rate. They 

 are probably due to the action of peroxides, or of a group of 

 ferments, the oxidases in the former case, and to the action 

 of a great group of cleavage ferments in the latter case, both 

 of which are themselves products of living protoplasm. But 

 the oxygen absorbed by any plant or animal seems in consid- 

 erable part to be used in continued energizing of the proto- 

 plasmic molecule, so that the organism can carry on increased 

 growth and cell division, while only half the amount is probably 

 used in the combustion of organic compounds revealed by the 

 respiratory exchange. And it is the continued autoxidizing 

 action, along with resulting growth and division, that rep- 

 resents a kind and quality of energy different from those hitherto 

 generally recognized, and which we have designated the biotic. 



