98 POISONOUS PKOTEINS 



cells consists of a chemical unity, made up of 

 giant molecules. So far as I can find, this view 

 receives additional support in the experimental 

 work done by others. I have been able to find 

 but little upon this subject. Eeinke and Eode- 

 wald found that air dried substance of aethy- 

 lium septicum, which they designate as plasmo- 

 dium, consists largely of highly complex pro- 

 teins containing phosphorus and yielding xan- 

 thine bases and carbohydrates on disruption. 

 Sosnowski concludes from his study of infuso- 

 rial cellular substance that this does not con- 

 tain simple proteins as such, but as constitu- 

 ents of highly complex molecules. My studies 

 have led me to formulate a theory concerning 

 the nature and operation of living matter. My 

 first attempt in this direction was made in a 

 lecture delivered in Toronto (1905), and this 

 was elaborated in a Shattuck lecture (1906). 

 The cell is not the unit of life ; life is molecular. 

 Life is function, not form. The cell is not only 

 made up of protein molecules, but its form and 

 function are determined by the chemical struc- 

 ture of its constituent molecules. The lines 

 along which the spore, seed or ovum develop 

 are determined by the chemical structure of its 

 proteins. Growth in other directions is impos- 

 sible, and this accounts for stability in repro- 



