DIASTROPHISM AND THE FORMATIVE PROCESSES 133 



encounter. Furthermore, in determining the frequency of a given 

 class of encounters, it is not sufficient to postulate an artificial case 

 convenient for computation, for actual cases usually involve a 

 natural selective adjustment of associated bodies with reference to 

 one another. And further, the present deployment of stars may 

 not be identical with that of earlier ages. And still further, if 

 the frequency has for its criterion a given effect or is to be considered 

 with reference to a given effect — explosive action for example — ■ 

 susceptibility to such effect is as important as the nature of the 

 encounter. These requirements are commonly neglected. 



VII. All cosmic organizations seem to be the products of oppos- 

 ing elements. The balance between these opposing factors seems 

 to form the critical issue on which their endurance depends. These 

 opposing factors vary with age, state of growth, environment, and 

 other conditions. Out of these variations of balance arise stages 

 of increase and depletion, of partial or total disorganization and 

 regeneration. The history of the cosmos seems to be essentially a 

 succession of cycles arising from either internal or external dis- 

 turbances of balance. Interestingly enough, the atom happens just 

 now to afford one of the best illustrations of internal disturbance 

 leading to transition in organization. Thought until recently to 

 be beyond the utmost resources of disintegration, it is now known 

 that some of the heaviest atoms are undergoing ''spontaneous" dis- 

 organization. By way of offset for the old error, as it were, the 

 dictum now is that no known device, appliance, or force can stop 

 this disintegration. Future inquiries will probably disclose the 

 golden mean between these extremes. In spite of all disintegrating 

 influences, the integrity of atomic organization, in the main, is 

 maintained to an extraordinary degree. In the larger cosmic 

 world there are intimations of analogous "spontaneous" disin- 

 tegrations standing over against similar persistency. The erup- 

 tivity of the sun, on which the planetesimal hypothesis is founded, 

 is revealing striking analogies to the partially disintegrating atom 

 as will be detailed later. Some of the great hot stars give intima- 

 tions of a very delicate balance of internal forces. Over against 

 the enormous concentrating force of gravity and its alHes, stands 

 the scarcely less potent alliance of the forces of dispersion. These 



