LIFE AND ELECTRICITY 



17 



These cells are then said to ** rest," but of course they 

 undergo further development, and await the duplication 

 of the centrosome, before they can further reproduce 

 themselves. 



Here, clearly, we have evidence of electrical phenomena in 

 association with vital processes and while I have only 

 postulated generation of force as taking place in the body 

 it is, I think, open to question whether we inspire atmos- 

 pheric air alone or whether it is accompanied by some 

 form of energy of supermundane origin. I am led to 

 consider this as a possibility by the facts that the earth 

 continually receives positive charge from the atmosphere 

 and that the atmosphere is merely the vehicle and not the 

 source of that charge. 



The conduction of the nerve impulse, upon the testimony 

 of the galvanometer, would appear to be in accordance 

 with the theory of the propogation of electric force by 

 molecular action, the molecules of the interpolar wire being 

 as follows : 



C being the copper and Z the zinc end, the dark parts being 

 + and the clear parts — . The first effect of the electric 

 force developed is to throw all the molecules of the circuit 

 into a polar condition, the force being transmitted from 

 molecule to molecule in both directions. Positive and 

 negative electricities appear in each molecule of the circuit ; 

 and if the action be powerful enough, discharge takes place 



