LIFE 155 



colloidal. By dipping the metallic poles of an in- 

 duction coil in distilled water and passing sparks 

 between them, the water becomes coloured and 

 acquires special properties due to the presence of 

 the particular metal in what is called its colloid 

 state. A colloid metal cannot be seen, and its 

 properties in nowise resemble those of the metal 

 in its ordinary state, but partake much more of 

 the nature of ferments formed by living organisms. 

 Thus colloid platinum decomposes oxygenated 

 water, as do certain ferments of the blood, and 

 transforms alcohol into acetic acid, as does the 

 mycoderma aceti. Colloidal iridium, again, de- 

 composes formiate of lime into carbonate of lime, 

 carbonic acid, and hydrogen, as do certain bacteria. 

 More curious still, bodies which, like prussic acid, 

 iodine, etc., poison acid, iodine, etc., poison organic 

 ferments, " paralyse or destroy in the same manner 

 the action of colloidal metals." The colloidal 

 ferments, in fact, may be chloroformed or poisoned 

 just like living germs. 



And the atoms not only have such vital qualities, 

 they even, as we have seen, evolve^ and evolve (as 

 Democritus and Lucretius maintained) apparently 

 in accordance with the law of the survival of 

 the fittest. We have seen how radium has been 

 caught in the act of breaking down and changing 

 into other elements, and this is nothing less than 



