NUCLEUS AS SOURCE OF ENERGY 159 



containing that cell, like the radium and the emana- 

 tion, would be capable in a newly formed cell of 

 performing the same processes as in the original. 



If, then, the primitive substance in the nucleus 

 consists of an element or substance possessing a store 

 of energy like the emanation from radium, even if 

 that substance be not radium but some other sub- 

 stance possessing similar qualities, perhaps different 

 chemical qualities more allied to those of carbon, 

 such a substance would, we thiuk, admit of perform- 

 ing the processes which are associated with vitality. 



In every combination of organic and inorganic 

 matter there is some resemblance between the 

 animate and inanimate. And it is only a ques- 

 tion of degree whether we should regard such 

 results as approximating more or less closely to 

 the animate or to the inanimate kingdoms of Nature. 



In every case, as we say, there can be perceived 

 the properties of one as well as of the other. And 

 it is from this gradual scale of increment of living 

 qualities that we feel justified in inferring that by 

 an extrapolation we should ultimately reach the 

 phenomenon of natural life itself. 



The nth nucleus or bio-element is of course in- 

 visible, and probably of molecular dimensions ; par- 

 ticularly so if it is of the nature we suppose it to 

 be — namely, an element possessing many of the 

 chemical properties of carbon and the radio-active 

 properties of the more unstable elements. 



Altmann had a theory that all living matter is 

 made up of very minute bodies which he called 



