240 VITALISM AND SCHOLASTICISM 



acter, holding back and sustaining the potential 

 energies of the organism in their unstable con- 

 ditions. In this view of the relation of the vital 

 principle to the material elements of the organ- 

 ism, it is obvious that the transformation of the 

 potential energy of the organism may be effected 

 without any form of positive pressure, however 

 small. 



" It will suffice simply to 6 let go,' to cease 

 to hold back and the energies thereby liberated 

 will tend of themselves to issue from their 

 unstable conditions. 



" Conceive a sack of potatoes or a bladder 

 of gas or water. Suppose that sack or bladder 

 endowed with the power of giving way in par- 

 ticular places. The contents will at once issue 

 forth into outer space by the force of gravita- 

 tion or of their own mutual repulsions. 



" Somewhat in a similar way the ' Soul,' 

 * Vital Principle,' or ' Form ' is holding and 

 preserving the material elements of the organ- 

 ism, not in a particular space, but in certain 

 states and conditions of unstable equilibrium." 



In conclusion, as regards this matter, it may 

 candidly be admitted that the last word on the 

 problem of the Conservation of Energy in its 

 relation to Life has not yet been said. But, at 

 the same time, it is also clear that the supposed 

 rigidity of the Law in question is in itself no 



