THE ACTIVE FORCES OF LIVING ORGANISMS 7 



those who for the sake of a theory would push deduc- 

 tive investigation forward into regions so distant will 

 do well to remember that the absence of tangible 

 signs of matter does not justify the assumption of 

 its non-existence. '|.Its infinite divisibility and omni- 

 presence are, indeed, conceptions which we can no 

 longer afford to disregard. 



The view that ether is really matter in the finest 

 state of division appears to be confirmed by certain 

 simple reflections. Matter in some form is either 

 absolutely necessary for the conduction of light and 

 heat or it is not. If we adopt the view that it is 

 essential, we must conclude that all forms of force 

 constitute a jostling of infinitely small particles, for 

 we can have no conception of force otherwise than as 

 matter in motion. We shall then be led to suppose 

 that both heat and light are merely modes of motion 

 communicated to the free ether, and from it to the 

 bound ether of atoms and of matter in general. But 

 electricity has within recent years been found to bear a 

 very close relationship to light, which is, indeed, held 

 to be an electrical phenomenon.* There appears, 



* Lodge, loc. oit, p. 377: 'The main proof of the electro- 

 magnetic theory of^Ught is this. The rate at which hght travels 

 has been measured many times, and is pretty well known. 

 The rate at which an electro-magnetic wave disturbance would 

 travel, if such could be generated, can be also determined by 

 calculation from electrical measurements. The two velocities; 

 agree exactly.' 



[If the ether be the common medium by which the light 

 wave is, and the electro -magneto iwave might be, transmitted, 

 the equality of velocity is, to some extent, explained,. The fg,.Qt 



