i88 BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS 



axiomatic. It, therefore, follows, that the phenomena 

 here referred to are no exception to the rule, and that 

 circulation takes place, along the lines of least resistance, 

 which, here, are clearly what we have imperfectly stated. 



Circulation of matter, in its organised form, we, there- 

 fore, regard as the result, primarily, of gravitation, inasmuch 

 as the first void space, or vacuole, is created by the exit, or 

 detachment, from the substance, or texture, in which 

 circulation becomes established, by the attractive influence 

 of gravitation after which the void, or vacuole, becomes 

 re-occupied, in virtue of the operation of this vis a fronte> 

 as well as, by the help of whatever vis a tergo may be 

 available, or inherent, in the particular structural circum- 

 stances. Gravitation plus the operation of vital energy, 

 which we claim to be equal to nerve, allied with physical, 

 chemical, energy, or life, and other modes of physiolo- 

 gical force, or attraction, constitute the causes of circu- 

 lation in a living organism ; this circulation being effected 

 along the lines of least resistance within that organism, it 

 follows that the life of that organism will be maintained, 

 as long as these forces are capable of propelling the 

 required organic pabulum along these lines. From this 

 likewise follows that the great desiderata, scientific, and 

 practical, are the securing of the effective operation of these 

 forces, and the maintaining of a free passage along these 

 lines, for the distribution of nutritive pabulum, and the 

 elimination of effete matter. 



Nutrition, as considered in the light of these views, 

 becomes the central act of the circulatory work of the 

 organic body, or the central link of the great chain of 

 vital intra-organic distribution and structural integration 

 of tissue plasma on the one hand, and the disintegra- 

 tion and re-collection of the effete tissue material, or waste, 

 on the other. It must, therefore, be effected where the 

 tissue plasma has reached the atomic, or molecular, stage, 

 of distributive division, where the final units of that 

 plasma fit into the atomic voids, or vacuoles, of the tissue 

 fabric, and when, if there is any rest for the circulating 

 material, it might be conceived that it is here attained. 

 This conception, however, would be found to be a miscon- 

 ception, inasmuch, as this is, only, the longest, or the shortest^ 



