158 MAN --AN ADAPTIVE MECHANISM 



of these systems in performing its specific functions 

 transforms a certain amount of potential into kinetic 

 energy for the accomplishment of its specific purpose, 

 but not one of them transforms latent into kinetic 

 energy for the purpose of escaping, fighting, pursuing 

 or combating infection, which are essentially adaptive 

 reactions. Obviously, therefore, none of these systems 

 transforms potential into kinetic energy primarily for 

 these adaptive reactions. The stomach, the kidneys, 

 the lungs, the heart, strike no physical blow ; their 

 role is to do certain work, to transform energy that 

 the blow may be struck by another system, which we 

 believe has been evolved primarily for that purpose. 

 In the present chapter we shall offer evidence that 

 there is in the body a system of organs, which we shall 

 term the Kinetic System, which is specifically adapted 

 to transform potential into kinetic energy for the pro- 

 duction of heat and motion. The principal organs 

 comprising the kinetic system are the brain, the thyroid, 

 the adrenals, the liver and the muscles. The brain 

 is the great central battery which drives the body ; 

 the thyroid governs the conditions favoring tissue oxida- 

 tion ; the adrenals govern immediate oxidation proc- 

 esses ; the liver fabricates and stores glycogen, and 

 is the great neutralizer of the acid products of energy 

 transformation ; and the muscles are the final con- 

 verters of latent energy into motion and heat. While 

 the kinetic system does not directly circulate the blood, 

 exchange oxygen and carbon dioxid, perform the 

 functions of digestion, urinary elimination or procrea- 

 tion, it does play an important .role in each of these 

 processes. In turn, digestion, elimination, procreation, 



