156 MAN --AN ADAPTIVE MECHANISM 



formation of energy in the organism. The human 

 organism, like plants and other organisms, is funda- 

 mentally a transformer of energy, this energy being 

 derived originally from the external environment and 

 returned ultimately to the environment, in the form 

 of heat, motion, electrical energy, mechanical work 

 performed, etc. 



In the present chapter we have considered in part 

 the action of this effector mechanism, in showing the 

 participation of certain organs in the production of 

 the reaction which we term emotion. In the succeeding 

 chapter, we propose to show that a system of organs 

 has been evolved for the specific purpose of transform- 

 ing potential into kinetic energy for the principal 

 reactions in the body. This system of organs we 

 propose to call the Kinetic System. A consideration 

 of the reason for the evolution of such a mechanism; 

 proof that it does perform the function predicated for 

 it ; and indications of the important bearing, which 

 a knowledge of this function may have upon an inter- 

 pretation of medical problems, as well as of the 

 phenomena of normal life, are contained in the follow- 

 ing chapters. 



