1 8 Origin of the Chemical Elements 



is the appearance of very fine granules in the protoplasm. Some of 

 these are larger than others. One of these located at a certain place 

 in the cell gradually increases in size, probably because the other 

 granules gather or flow together at this point. The result is a 

 roundish or ellipsoidal, bright body, which at first has no definite 

 envelope or wall. Presently a distinct spore-wall does form, which 

 may be due to a condensation of the protoplasm of the cell around 

 the central body. At all events the protoplasm of the cell dis- 

 appears, as can be shown by plasmolysis, and, in part, at least, 

 makes up the substance of the spore. The spore, therefore, may 

 be considered as the condensed cell contents. It contains all the 

 proteins of the parent cell, and, when completed, lies surrounded 

 by an aqueous liquid inside the otherwise empty shell or cell-wall 

 or membrane. This original cell wall soon softens and dissolves, 

 and the spore thus set free." (Novy). 



In this description of sporulation by Novy, the bacteriologist, we 

 have an explanation of the part an " electrostatic field " plays in the 

 life-history of an organic cell. 



The nucleus of the cell and the " inner core " of the atom are 

 individualized as such by an electrostatic field, formed by the pro- 

 ducts of growth of the outer wall or shell, and the products of 

 decomposition of the inner core. 



In the description of sporulation, where the contents of the cell 

 appear homogeneous, we have the equalization of the nucleus and 

 the liquid in which it lies, as a mass of equal condensation. The 

 breaking up of this mass into parts or centres of force now repre- 

 sents an *' electrostatic field," because the granules act the part of 

 a centre or tension, the fluid being the supporting medium. The 

 decomposition of the fluid on one hand thus liberating gas, forces 

 the granules together, and this *' pushing force " of the gases in com- 

 bustion is the great and only force in what we recognize as " loco- 

 motion." There is the continual " push " toward a centre, and the 

 continual " push " from a centre to the circumference of a cell or 

 an atom. Because of the perfect adjustment of balance in motions, 

 we have failed to recognize the origin of the organs of locomotion 

 of the tiniest cell, the bacteria, and consequently of all other cells. 



For instance, the spherical cell, or micrococcus, is said to possess 

 no real powers of locomotion, any movement observed being due 

 to currents in the liquid in which it is found. The fact is 

 the cell was implanted in a jelly as a culture medium; the jelly, 

 being an immovable mass, could not break down into liquid form 

 until the cells brought about these '' currents in the liquid " in which 

 the cells are seen to flow. This mysterious Brownian movement, 

 common to all particles suspended in a liquid, is the movement 

 caused by the decomposition of the " field of force " represented 

 in the water cell, which is a living one-walled cell, into gases and 

 the reorganization of the gases into new fields of force. The dis- 

 tance of push toward a centre, and the displacement of that which 

 already occupies that position, bring about this " vibratory move- 

 ment " which is said to hold the secret of life, or a push towards 



