rt 
OcTOBER 16, 1913] 
-_ NATURE 
227 
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remarked that if, in chemistry, it be true that Corpora 
‘non agunt nisi liquida, then, in chemiotherapy, it is 
no less true that Corpora non agunt nisi fixata. 
Whatever precisely may be involved in the important 
principle of “fixation” as applied to drug actions, 
it remains, I think, true that the older adage applies 
to the dynamic reactions which occur in the living 
cell. But there are doubtless dynamic phenomena in 
which the cell complexes play a prominent part. The 
whole of.our doctrine concerning the reaction of the 
body to the toxins of disease is based upon the fact 
that when the cell is invaded by complexes other than 
those normal to it, its own complexes become involved. 
I must not attempt to deal with these phenomena, but 
rather proceed to my closing remarks. I would like, 
however, just to express the hope that the chemist will 
recognise their theoretical importance. He will not, 
indeed, be surprised at the oligo-dynamic aspects of 
the phenomena, startling as they are. When physico- 
chemical factors enter into a phenomenon the in- 
fluence of an infinitely small amount of material may 
always be expected. It is a fact, for instance, as 
Dr. W. H. Mills reminds me, that when a substance 
crystallises in more than one form it may be quite 
impossible to obtain the less stable forms of its 
crystals in any laboratory which has been “‘infected”’ 
with the more stable form, even though this infec- 
tion has been produced by quite ordinary manipulations 
dealing with the latter. Here, certainly, is a case in 
which the influence of the infinitesimal is before 
us. But what I feel should arrest the interest 
of the chemist is the remarkable mingling of 
the general with the particular which pheno- 
mena like those of immunity display. In the 
relations which obtain between toxin and anti-toxin, 
for example, we find that physico-chemical factors 
_ predominate, and yet they are associated to a high 
degree with the character of specificity. The colloid 
state of matter, as such, and the properties of surface 
determine many of the characteristics of such re- 
actions, yet the chemical aspect is always to the front. 
Combinations are observed which do not seem to be 
chemical compounds, but rather associations by adsorp- 
tion; yet the mutual relations between the inter- 
acting complexes are in the highest degree discrimina- 
tive and specific. The chemical factor in adsorption 
phenomena has, of course, been recognised else- 
where; but in biology it is particularly striking. 
Theoretical chemistry must hasten to take account of 
it. The modern developments in the study of valency 
probably constitute a step in this direction. 
It is clear to everyone that the physical chemist 
is playing, and will continue to play, a most important 
part in the investigation of biological phenomena. 
We need, I think, have no doubt that in this country 
he will turn to our problems, for the kind of work 
he has to do seems to suit our national tastes and 
talents, and the biologist just now is much alive 
to the value of his results. But I rather feel that the 
organic chemist needs more wooing and gets less, 
though I am sure that his aid is equally necessary. 
In connection with most biological problems, physical 
and organic chemists have clearly defined tasks. To 
take one instance. In muscle phenomena it is becom- 
ing every day clearer that the mechanico-motor pro- 
perties of the tissue, its changes of tension, its con- 
traction and relaxation, depend upon physico-chemical 
phenomena associated with its colloidal complexes 
and its intimate structure. Changes in hydrogen-ion 
concentration and in the concentration of electrolytes 
~ generally, by acting upon surfaces or by upsetting 
osmotic equilibria, seem to be the determining causes 
of muscular movement. Yet the energy of the muscle 
is continuously supplied by the progress of organic 
NO, 2294, VOL. 92] 
reactions, and for a full understanding of events we 
need to know every detail of their course. Here 
then, as everywhere else, is the need for the organic 
chemist. 
But I would urge upon any young chemist who 
thinks of occupying himself with biological problems. 
the necessity for submitting for a year or two to a 
second discipline. If he merely migrate to a bio- 
logical institute, prepared to determine the constitu- 
tion of new products from the animal and study 
their reactions in vitro, he will be a very useful and 
acceptable person, but he will, not become a_bio- 
chemist. We want to learn how reactions run in the 
organism, and there is abundant evidence to show 
how little a mere knowledge of the constitution of 
substances, and a consideration of laboratory possi- 
bilities, can help on such knowledge. The animal 
body usually does the unexpected. 
But if the organic chemist will get into touch with. 
the animal, it is sure that the possession of his special 
knowledge will serve him well. Difficulties and 
peculiarities in connection with technique may lead. 
the professor of pure chemistry to call his work 
amateurish, and certainly his results, unlike those 
of the physical chemist, will not straightway lend. 
themselves to mathematical treatment. He may him- 
self, too, meet from time to time the spectre of 
Vitalism, and be led quite unjustifiably to wonder 
whether all his work may not be wide of the mark. 
But if he will first obtain for us a further supply of 
valuable qualitative facts concerning the reactions in 
the body, we may then say to him, as Tranio said to 
his master : 
“The mathematics and the metaphysics 
Fall to them ay you find your stomach serves you.” 
All of us who are engaged in applying chemistry 
and physics to the study of living phenomena are apt 
to be posed with questions as to our goal, although 
we have but just set out on our journey. It seems. 
to me that we should be content to believe that we 
shall ultimately be able at least to describe the living 
animal in the sense that the morphologist has 
described the dead; if such descriptions do not amount 
to final explanations, it is not our fault. If in ‘‘life” 
there be some final residuum fated always to elude: 
our methods, there is always the comforting truth 
to which Robert Louis Stevenson gave perhaps the: 
finest expression, when he wrote: 
“ To travel hopefully is better than to arrive, 
And the true success is labour,”’ 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
LreDs.—An anonymous donor has _ generously 
signified, through the Chancellor (the Duke of Devon- 
shire), his intention of presenting to the University 
of Leeds the sum of 10,0001, for the erection of the 
much-needed building for the school of agriculture at 
the University. This gift will enable the University, 
in conjunction with the Yorkshire Council for Agri- 
cultural Education and with the help, it is hoped, of a 
grant from the Government, to provide without further 
delay the headquarters of agricultural education and 
research for the three Ridings of Yorkshire. The 
organisation of agricultural teaching in Yorkshire 
has been taken by the Board of Agriculture as the 
model for all other parts of England, and the rapid 
growth of the agricultural courses and the develop- 
ment of research in animal nutrition and other sub- 
jects have made it necessary to provide new buildings 
and laboratories on an extensive scale for the school! 
