CHEMICAL PHENOMENA IN LIFE 



different organic bases, finally mineral salts of 

 potassium, magnesium, and calcium. 



Reinke and Rodewald drew from their different 

 experimental work the conclusion that protoplasm 

 could not be considered to be a specific organic 

 substance. It was rather a complex of various 

 organic and inorganic substances, none of which 

 was new to chemistry. In consequence of these 

 experiments the two German biologists inclined 

 to the opinion that it was not chemical and sub- 

 stantial properties which essentially characterised 

 protoplasm, but mainly the structure of the 

 protoplasmatic masses in living cells. 



The impression made by this experimental work 

 upon biologists, both botanists and zoologists, 

 was so great that for a long series of years the 

 Engine- or Structure-Theory of protoplasm was 

 exclusively the prevailing one. The opinion of 

 Oscar Loew and some other eminent physiologists 

 that protoplasm must nevertheless contain some 

 peculiar matter which is characteristic of life Avas 

 scarcely taken up by any textbook authors or 

 University teachers. 



The last decade, however, seems to have pre- 

 pared an alteration in the course of the biology 

 of protoplasm. As I have already mentioned, 

 chemical methods clearly show that in the pulp 

 prepared by grinding down living organs in a 

 mortar some vital phenomena continue for a 

 longer time. Therefore not all the Chemical 

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