136 WHAT IS LIFE 



in their unstable conditions. In this view of the 

 relation of the vital principle to the material ele- 

 ments of the organism, it is obvious that the trans- 

 formation of the potential energy of the organism 

 may be effected without any form of positive pres- 

 sure, however small. 



" It will suffice simply to ' 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 particular places. 

 The contents will at once issue forth into outer 

 space by the force of gravitation or of their own 

 mutual repulsions. 



" Somewhat in a similar way the i Soul/ ' Vital 

 Principle/ or ' Form ' is holding and preserving the 

 material elements of the organism, not in a par- 

 ticular 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 reason 

 why we should be called upon to deny a fact which 



