BASIS OF ANIMAL PHOSPHORESCENCE. 



M 



117 



LIVING CONSTITUENTS OF THE CELL. NON-LIVING CONSTITUENTS OF THE CELL. 



f (a) Cytoplasm. ( (a) Food (A). 



M Protoplasm < \ ', \ ( D , 



L (b) Chromosome. I (b) Photogenic granules (Z). 



O Oxygen, acting on the photogenic 



granules. 

 L Light, emanating from the cell, as 



the result of oxidation. 



The food-substance, which I represent, for the sake of con- 

 venience, by the block (A) in the accompanying diagram, enters 

 the cell boundary, and becomes eventually assimilated into the 

 protoplasm (M) ; the complex living substance, or protoplasm, 

 becomes disintegrated into a number of granules (Z) which 

 are no longer " living," and which may be regarded as refuse 

 of life. The definite chemical molecules which constitute 

 these granules combine with oxygen (O), and the molecular 

 agitation, which accompanies the chemical process of combus- 

 tion, sets the surrounding ether into a state of vibration (L), 

 which has a powerful luminous effect on us, but little or no 

 thermal effect. 



Thus, the life of the luminous cell, like that of any other 

 cell, begins with the physical and ends with the physical. We 

 know the beginning (^4); and we also know the termination (L). 

 The unknown territory in the middle (M) is what we call the 

 protoplasm, or the matter in the living state. 



