240 BACTERIOLOGY. 



chronous movements, to overcome the resist- 

 ance and convert the potential energy into 

 kinetic, the cause into effect. 



In purely inorganic processes the liberating 

 impulses either bring about an effect or do not 

 bring it about according to the extent to which 

 they are quantitatively adapted for the re- 

 moval of resistance. The quantitative effect 

 of the liberating impulses bears a relation to 

 the quality of the potential energy set free 

 only through the particular form of motion 

 involved. In the liberation of the energy of 

 complex organic molecules, on the other hand, 

 the impulses bear more of a qualitative rela- 

 tion. But whether they can or cannot make 

 themselves felt in such a qualitative way again 

 depends in the last instance exclusively upon 

 the character of the molecular structure. The 

 nature and amount of the resistance offered 

 depend also upon the structure, that is to say, 

 upon the internal organization of the organic 

 substance upon which a liberating impulse 

 impinges. Resistance in this case is therefore 

 in plain terms a result of adaptation, while in 

 the inorganic realm it often results from the 

 simple juxtaposition of different processes and 

 their reciprocal action. 



Accordingly in our inquiry 'into the causes 

 of organic processes we meet all those phe- 



