198 ORIGIN AND NATURE OF LIFE 



The living cell consists of a combination 

 of colloids existing in dynamic equilibrium 

 with one another, and carrying on an exchange 

 of energy phenomena peculiar to living 

 matter with one another and with their 

 environment. The study of these energy 

 changes forms the province of the physiologist 

 and bio-chemist. 



The character of the energy reactions varies 

 in a very specific way from one type of 

 cell to another, dependently upon minute 

 and delicate differences in colloidal structure 

 in the different kinds of cell. It has been 

 seen that as structure became more complex, 

 energy exchanges also varied, and it is 

 accordingly only to be expected that the acme 

 of this differentiation should occur at the 

 most complex range of all in the living cells 

 of higher animals. It is upon this that the 

 vast number of varieties of living types 

 depends, and here arises that individuality 

 and fine differentiation which is found in 

 higher animals and in man. 



The body of one of the higher animals, 

 or man, consists of an enormous assemblage, 

 or community, of many millions of millions 

 of such living units far outnumbering the 

 total population of human individuals on the 

 earth, and this vast community of living cells 



