AND ITS SELF-CONSERVATION. 67 



therefore characterized in their absolute isolation by exter- 

 nality solely, it is evident that each in its unlimited 

 expansion includes all at the same time that it is included 

 in all. In other words, each "atom," in its relation to 

 every other " atom/' includes the whole physical universe. 

 It therefore has in some sense internality as well as exter- 

 nality ; that is, the greater its extent, the greater also 

 would seem to be its intent or content. 



NorJn saying this is there any latent purpose to trifle 

 with the reader's time. We are attempting to examine 

 the "atom" in its nature and essence. That is, we are 

 endeavoring to trace out its fundamental characteristics 

 and relations. And in so far as this is really accom- 

 plished, there lies open before us the fact that this 

 so-called ultimate, simple division of matter is in truth 

 a highly complex phase of the physical universe. It exists 

 not merely by itself, or in isolation that is, within abso- 

 lutely fixed boundaries but rather it exists for all else- 

 that is extended just as all else that is extended exists 

 reciprocally for it. 



That is, the total sum of the extended can only be con- 

 ceived as an indivisible unit, which is at the same time an 

 immeasurably complex manifold ; though in our present 

 investigation only the relatively simplest phases of this 

 manifoldness have as yet received explicit statement. 



The next thing, indeed, that lies on the surface after 

 what has already been developed is the solution of the con- 

 tradiction between impenetrability and compressibility as 

 properties of the extended. Even in the diffusion of 

 gases "matter" shows itself to be practically in greater or 

 less degree penetrable. And while this is usually explained 

 on the theory of the <( porosity" of matter, yet in every 



