402 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF [Sess. lvi. 



and we increase in anabolisni. Conversely, expenditure 



may predominate and we may live on for a while with 



loss of weight, or in katabolisra. This losing game of life 

 is what we call a katabolic habit, tendency, or diathesis ; the 

 converse gaining one being, of course, the anabolic habit, 

 temperament, tendency, or diathesis." "After what we have 

 just said, it is evident that there are but three main physio- 

 logical possibilities, — preponderant anabolism, or preponderant 

 katabolism, or an approximate (i.e., oscillating) et^uilibrium 

 between these tendencies. A growing surplus of income, 

 a lavish expenditure of energy, or a compromise in which 

 the cell lives neither far below nor c^uite up to its income." 



I have quoted the above sentences verbatim, to allow the 

 reader to judge whether in my criticism I have, perhaps 

 unfairly, attributed views to the authors which they them- 

 selves did not intend to express. 



If the letter C represent the capital of living matter in a 

 cell, and if A stand for anabolism and K for katabolism, then 

 in a cell living " neither far below nor quite up to its income " 

 (a cell internrediate between an anabolic and a katabolic cell), 

 we might represent C = 100, A = 20, and K = 19, i.e., we 

 have a slight preponderance of anabolism over katabolism, a 

 condition which the authors believe to be essential for the 

 existence of a normal non-sexual cell. 



In a fully formed male or katal)olic cell with a distinct 

 preponderance of katabolism over anal)olism, we might repre- 

 sent C V)y ]00, A by 20, and K by 30, and analogously in a 

 mature female or anabolic cell, by 100, A by 20, and 

 K by 10. 



On comparing then a normal non-sexual cell with a male 

 and a female cell, we would find: — 



Xon-sexual, . C = 100, A = 20, K = 19 

 Male, . . C = 100, A = 20, K = 30 



Female, . . C = 100, A = 20, K = 10 



Ultimate 

 Cajjital. 



= 0=101. 

 = 0= 90. 

 = = 110. 



Or, ill oilier words, tliat in lIk; male cell a leduction, while 

 in the female cell an increase, of tlie original capital of living 

 matter had taken place. 



Before proceeding, it may be as well to point out that to 

 several passages of the authors a dih'erent explanation may 



