49 
At low temperatures the first effect is predominant since the harmful 
effect does not begin to play its part. 
Thus the problem for us is to investigate the effect of temperature 
on vital processes at low temperatures that is, before the harmful 
effect on the living cells has begun and we shall probably see the 
same quantitative laws which are applicable in the domain of ordinary 
chemical reactions im vitro are also applicable to vital processes 
taking place in nature. 
Enzymes and colloids reign supreme in life processes and the 
BROWNIAN movement of these particles does away with the diffusion 
layer characteristic of heterogeneous reactions and makes them analogous 
to positively catalysed reactions taking place in homogeneous medium 
and hence we expect to find the same laws governing both ordinary 
chemical reactions and life processes, compare Drar, Proc. Akad. 
Wetensch. (1919). 
In conclusion I suggest that it is desirable to study the problem 
of acclimatization scientifically from the point of view of the influence 
of temperature on life processes. 
SUM A ROY: 
a. Physiological processes take place mostly in heterogeneous 
medium. The Brownian movement of the colloidal particles present 
in the reacting substances does away with the diffusion layer 
characteristic of heterogeneous reactions and makes the physiological 
reactions similar to positively catalysed reactions taking place in 
homogeneous medium. Consequently the temperature coefficients of 
physiological processes instead of being small (Viz. about 1.2) are 
generally greater than 2 for a 10° rise. 
6. The spontaneous destruction of certain toxins is highly influenced 
by temperature and this fact is extremely useful to the human body 
because in the phenomenon of fever the poison is killed very rapidly. 
c. Before the destructive effect of temperature begins to set in, 
the ARRHENIUS formula connecting temperature and velocity is generally 
applicable to physiological processes. 
Chemical Laboratory, Muir Central college, 
Allahabad (India). 
Proceedings Royal Acad. Amsterdam. Vol. X XIII. 
