80 THE UNIVERSE 



more masterful than anybody has yet dared to 

 dream. Briefly, it has been discovered that our 

 nerves consist of what is called a colloidal solution 

 that is, matter resembling gelatin held in solution 

 in water before it is jellied, and these colloidal par- 

 ticles in the nerves carry charges of positive electric- 

 ity. When the nerve particles pass from the colloidal 

 condition into the state of gelation, or become jel- 

 lied, the nerve experiences a stimulation or becomes 

 active. This is produced by the action of atoms 

 or ions bearing charges of negative electricity. 



"This explains the action of certain chemical sub- 

 stances when introduced into the human body, 

 some of which tend to quiet the nerves and others 

 to excite them. The nerve-quieting ions are those 

 that bear charges of positive electricity, such as 

 atoms of sodium, potassium, calcium and hydro- 

 gen, and tend to keep the colloidal particles of the 

 nerves in a state of solution, so that the nerves re- 

 main inactive. The nerve-stimulating ions are atoms 

 of such substances as fluorine and chlorine, which 

 carry charges of negative electricity and cause the 

 nerve particles to coalesce or become jellied, in 

 which condition the nerve is active, the degree of 

 activity depending upon the intensity of the stimu- 

 lation. Death appears to be the result of the stag- 

 nation of the nerves, and this discovery may en- 

 able us to oppose the process that ends in death." 



This throws a flood of light on other obscure 

 problems, and offers an explanation of the effect 

 of anaesthetics upon the human body. Anything 

 that tends to keep the nerve particles in a state of 

 solution quiets the nerves. Now, nerve particles are 

 largely composed of fat, and anaesthetics dissolve 



