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chophysiological law of distribution might be really represented by a 
logarithmic function, we should be led to formulae of interpolation 
as have been proposed by PLATEAU, BRENTANO, FULLERTON and 
CATTELL. 
If we want to make the formula of interpolation applicable to a 
greater interval and in this way account to a certain extent for the 
deviations from the law of FECHNER, we must break off the series 
in which p(R) was developed at a higher power of &. If we break 
off this series at the second powers of & and introduce the approx- 
imations already mentioned, a formula is obtained which accounts for 
the deviations of the law of Fscuner at the under limit. This formula 
is identical with the formula, which von HerMmuoLtz *) has found 
for it. If we break off the series at the third powers of 2, a formula 
is formed which is analagous to that of von HerMHoLTz *) and 
which, like the former, partly accounts for the deviations at the 
upper limit. 
As yet we have only considered states of equilibrium. In this 
way we obtained the simplification that our considerations were 
independent of the time as a factor. 
The laws which determine the transition from one state of 
equilibrium to another, are very complicated, because the new 
state of equilibrium is not reached at once, but after some oscillations 
round this new state. As the physiological systems show passive 
resistances the laws of the oscillating systems in a resisting medium 
will apply here. HerinG *) has come to the same conclusion, and 
has rightly applied this idea to the physiology of the heart. These 
oscillations are of general occurrence and the clinic furnishes several 
examples of it. 
In a third communication I hope to elucidate some of these 
points of view led by my own experiments. 
Conclusions. 
1. For the higher animals the reflex-are is the morphological unit 
within which the cycle of metabolism takes place. For plants and 
probably also for the lowest animals this is the cell. 
2. Between the system of the products of assimilation and that 
of the products of dissimilation exists a stable equilibrium. 
3. The cyclical metabolic process is partly irreversible. 
1) HELMHOLTz |. c. p. 411 the reduced formula of form 2 f. 
2) HELMHOLTZ |. c. p. 413 form. 3. 
*) Herine. Lotos. Neue Folge IX Bd. 1889, p. 69.! 
