MAN IS A SOUL CLAD IN AIR 79 



only in the presence of electrically charged sub- 

 tances. Second, the efficiency of the charges de- 

 pends upon the number of the charges or the differ- 

 ent ions. Professor Mathews has arrived at a third 

 conclusion, which is, that the negatively charged 

 ions are those which stimulate, and the positively 

 charged ions are those which hinder contraction." 



Dr. Loeb's paper created a sensation among the 

 assembled scientists, as also did that of Professor 

 A. P. Mathews, on "The Nature of the Nerve Stimu- 

 lation and Alteration of Irritability." "Dr. Loeb's 

 discoveries have revolutionized the basic principles 

 of physiology," declared one of the scientists. "A 

 greater part of the text-books on this subject will 

 have to be rewritten to accord with the results of 

 these new views of life phenomena." And Dr. G. N. 

 Stewart, who presided at the meeting, eulogized Dr. 

 Loeb and said, "He has given us an insight into 

 the mechanics of living tissue which we never before 

 have had. He has brought forward the science of 

 electro-physiology, which has hitherto been despised, 

 but which will now be accorded a respectable posi- 

 tion." 



Professor Garrett P. Serviss says : " This discovery 

 of Dr. Loeb and Prof. Mathews comes closer to the 

 solution of the mystery of life than physiologists 

 have ever before been able to approach, and is so 

 fundamental and far reaching as to warrant the 

 hope that we shall soon know what are the con- 

 ditions and the limits of man's power to prolong 

 his own life. 



' 'The whole foundation of physiology and medi- 

 cine may be reconstructed, and we may find that 

 we possess a control over the phenomena of life 



