THE MECHANISM OF LIFE 225 



to similar systems in the electronic or electrical, 

 we see the same or similar modes of stable as well 

 as unstable aggregation and of motion, which shows 

 us that as in our middle nature similar systems 

 are to be found in the infinitely great and in- 

 finitely small. It is only a question of the order 

 of magnitude relatively to our own, and once more 

 we may perceive that there is surely nothing either 

 great or small but thinking makes it so. 



Biogen may be regarded as the intermediate 

 state between free electricity and condensed elec- 

 tricity which we call matter — the hiatus between 

 electricity as we know it and matter as we know 

 it ; the missing link that bears 



" The heavy and the dreary weight 

 Of all this unintelligible world." 



In this way we may look upon the nuclear 

 substance in its ultimate form as the material from 

 which the energy and potentialities of the cell 

 are stored and afterwards emanate. It possesses 

 those properties which enable it in suitable 

 environments to produce cells like the artificial 

 ones we have demonstrated, but possesses also 

 the power of exciting vigorous metabolism and of 

 developing into more divers forms. 



This nuclear substance, consisting of biogens or 

 more accurately described as bio-elements is thus 

 the basis from which the manifold properties of 

 living things we see around us are ultimately due. 



It is obvious that such a type of electronic 

 aggregation should exist, that between the states 

 of gaseous or free electricity, and solid or con- 



Q 



