THE ACTIVE FORCES OF LIVING ORGANISMS 73 



supposing that the ether is matter in a state of infinite 

 division ; that matter itself as distinguished from free 

 ether consists finally of atoms, which are in reality 

 little whirling masses of ether, the specific motion of 

 which gives them rigidity and assures their separate 

 existence ; that this specific motion is probably tem- 

 porarily disturbed or in some way altered at moments 

 of chemical action ; and, lastly, that the free ether 

 surrounds all molecules and atoms, thus permeating 

 to a greater or less extent all forms of matter, and 

 acting as a medium for the conduction of force 

 proceeding from one sort or collection of molecules 

 or atoms to another sort or collection. The force 

 transmitted we, suggested must be electricity. A 

 difference of potential we further supposed to depend 

 on the relative reactive power of any given class or 

 collection of atoms as compared with another class or 

 collection in respect to their properties of attraction 

 and repulsion, and also on a second and extremely 

 important factor, the state of tension of the ether. 

 According to these views, and, indeed, according to any 

 theory which admits the ubiquitous character of the 

 ether, whenever chemical action takes place a disturb- 

 ance of the ether must follow as a logical consequence. 

 Whether or not it will take the form of a regular 

 current depends, one would think, on the difl'erence of 

 potential between the substance in which action is 

 first started and the surrounding substance, and on 

 the regularity of such action. But the conditions in 

 living organisms with respect to heat, movement, and 



