176 THE BIOCOSHOS CELLULAR. 



component parts, which are recomposed 

 afresh, to be decomposed still again. Thus 

 the chemical pursuit is kept up through all 

 matter neither side ever quite reaching the 

 other. Decomposition negates composition, 

 and is in turn negated by recomposition, one 

 after the other in endless sequence racing 

 through all earth's substances and doubtless 

 through the entire Cosmos. 



Now the point which we wish to empha- 

 size is that these two mutually fleeing and 

 mutually pursuing sides of Chemism overtake 

 each other and unite in the process of Life 

 or of the living thing. The organism is per- 

 petually decomposing and recomposing in 

 the same product. Your body as a given com- 

 pound never ceases while Life lasts, to de- 

 compose its food, and to recompose the same 

 into its tissues and organs, which are the 

 means as well as the result of the total chem- 

 ical process. The stomach decomposes what 

 in the end keeps recomposing it, and gives 

 to it the power of decomposition. From the 

 chemical point of view cause and effect, 

 means and end, come to unity in the living 

 object, which separates what it puts together 

 fof the purpose of such separation. Under 

 this aspect we may call Life organized an 

 end unto itself within itself, or briefly self- 

 end. 



