136 THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OP LIFE 



to act directly on the chemistry of our constituent sub- 

 stances. Such are chemical solutions, light or heat radia- 

 tions, etc. Even here we never know whether such causes 

 do not also act directly on the colloid state of our proto- 

 plasms. A chemical solution possesses physical properties, 

 for example electric properties, which may act on the colloid 

 state ; and the same is true of light or heat radiations. 

 It is a delicate problem to find out which is the really specific 

 action of a given reagent. 



For example, an injection of morphine probably owes its 

 particular activity to its chemical nature. It is probable 

 that it acts directly on the chemistry of our protoplasm and, 

 consequently, if a colloid activity results from it, this must 

 take place secondarily for the reason that the modifications 

 induced in the chemical status of the constituent elements 

 happen to be those which influence the colloid equilibrium. 

 In point of fact, there is no anti-morphinic serum, as may be 

 easily understood. Since the action of morphine is chemical, 

 the habit which results from it must also be of chemical 

 order. Accordingly, we shall have one of two things : 



Either the resulting modification has no influence on the 

 colloid mechanism (this would be a case of Cope's physiogene- 

 sis) and then it is only natural that the protoplasm habitu- 

 ated to morphine and experiencing no colloid modifications 

 should not influence the colloid state of the serum in which 

 it bathes ; 



Or else the resulting modification has a rebound in the col- 

 loid mechanism of the protoplasm ; and then it is possible for 

 a corresponding modification to be transmitted to the serum 

 by the protoplasm. But this would be a colloid modification 

 and would have no reason to connect itself in any way with 

 the chemical nature of the morphine ; and so it would not be 

 antimorphinic. In the same way the bite of a viper makes 



