MECHANISM OF PROCESS OF DEATH 59 



curve, as shown in Fig. 28, is not zero but ten. M is 

 therefore equal to the resistance of the living tissue after 

 the resistance of the dead tissue and the resistance of 

 the apparatus has been subtracted. We may call this the 

 residual resistance, while the resistance of the living 

 tissue minus that of the apparatus is called the 

 net resistance. 



Fm. 28. — Death outtb of Laminaria agardhii in NaCl 0.52 M. The curve shows the cal- 

 culated value of the resistance: the observed values are shown by the fjoints (Ot O). All 

 readings were made at 15° C. or corrected to this temperature. Each point represents the 

 average of ten or more experiments. Probable error of the mean leas than 10% of the mean. 



In our calculations we may employ the methods used in 

 calculating the decomposition of radioactive substances.^^ 



If we start with A and M in equilibrium in sea water 

 according to the scheme A — >M — >B, and if the value 

 of A is called A^ and that of M is called M^, the amount of 

 M which is formed in each unit of time is AqK^, and the 

 amount of M which decomposes in each unit of time is 

 M0K2. Since at equilibrium, AoKi=MoK2, the value of 

 M remains constant. 



If the tissue is transferred to NaCl 0.52 M we have at 



"Rutherford, E. (1913) p. 421. 



