The Message of Science. 93 



ing, in many tissues, a life term contemporary with that 

 of the greater metazoic organism. 



What, then, is the actual cell food? — and the cell food 

 is equally the food of the metazoic organism. 



Keeping in mind that much of what the cells take as 

 food from the blood plasma is food in a gross. condition, 

 which necessitates intracellular conflagrations before it is 

 reduced, smelted down, so to speak, and sublimated, fit for 

 actual cell food, and at best leaving a portentous residue 

 or slag that has to be gotten rid of, — keeping in mind' this 

 fact, I say, What is the real food of the cells ? What is 

 this last product of intracellular digestion which goes to 

 cell maintenance. 



Beyond doubt it is something refined, "ambrosial," 

 ethereal, perhaps the ion itself, the electron. We know 

 not as yet whether there is a decomposition of the atom of 

 carbon, or of the other elements present in " protoplasm." 

 Is the life of the cell dependent on the restoration of the 

 component atoms b}'' an intake of fresh ions, set free from 

 the incoming food-stream ? . And if something of this 

 nature is found to be true, is it not quite possible that a 

 dynamic food which may be administered directly to the 

 cells, without combustion, waste and residue is the de- 

 sideratum of life on the earth? 



Why are 98°-|- Fahr. of organic heat requisite to 

 human life? Clearly because of this food combustion 

 rather than because the cell-of-life cannot live at a lower 



