604 Causes and Course of Organic Evolution 



is an intimate relation, when one considers the various connec- 

 tions of the Hving cell, and the trophic continuity that exists 

 between the constituent parts of it. 



In the latter part of Chapter IV the writer has shortly 

 summed up evidence that constantly and clearly demonstrates 

 the existence of three ascending phases of life-energy in man. 

 Thus in the maturation of the newly bom child there are — 

 alike morphologically and physiologically — the biotic, the cog- 

 nitic, and the cogitic superposed and elaborated on each other 

 up to at least the fourteenth year. Conversely in gradual bodily 

 decay, "second childishness, and mere oblivion," or biotic life 

 mainly exists before death. In sudden nerve-shocks, as in the 

 case described, all three phases may be distinguished, first in 

 descending and again in ascending order; while, in alcoholism 

 and related drug poisoning, the descending phases are also 

 seen. 



Now in all of the above cases we seem to have to do with 

 three groups of chemical compounds of increasing complexity, 

 that exhibit an increasing degree of molecular instability in 

 like ratio, and which also show a degree of heat and cold re- 

 sistance that is greatest in the simplest, less extended in the 

 more complex, and least in the most complex. Thus we have 

 already pointed out (p. 57) that protoplasmic and related 

 biotic material may live through a temperature range of 

 — 200° to +100° C; nucleated cognitic cells are active only 

 through a range of 2° to 40° C, but show living response between 

 0° and 75° C. Naked human organisms again, in virtue of the 

 presence of neuratin substance, have an optimum temperature 

 range from 20° to 35° C. 



In the history of individuals or even of nations, it is a fact of 

 general observation that whole races of savages, and equally 

 not a few members of civilized society, lose all effort toward 

 aspiring proenvironal response, and, for reasons that we need 

 not enlarge on here, sink into a condition where mere eating 

 and drinking are the dominant life-activities. Their cognitic 

 or chromatin, and even more their cogitic or neuratin sub- 

 stance and the energies for which these stand become clogged. 



