476 Organic Physics. [June, 



of this salt into its constituents yields the acid and base above 

 named. The chemical poles, from being passive, have become 

 active. A secondary division of the base gives us Na and OH, a 

 powerful positive element, and a weak negative molecule. If 

 finally OH be separated into its constituents, we obtain an atom 

 of the active negative element, oxygen, and one of the weakly 

 positive element, hydrogen. Analysis of the sulphuric acid mole- 

 cule yields like results, one of which will be the neutral substance 

 H,0, or water. 



It may here be asked what has all this to do with the chemical 

 activity of protoplasm ? It may possibly have much to do with 

 it. If this activity be a chemical one it is certainly governed by 

 the ruling principles and processes of chemistry. There is another 

 chemical mode of action which may also have a bearing upon 

 this question— that concerned in the chemism of the galvanic cir- 

 cuit. In this circuit, as ordinarily constructed, there is but a sin- 

 gle chemical energy in active operation, the affinity of the positive 

 metal for the negative element of the fluid. For instance, in an 

 ordinary form of battery, the oxygen of water combines with the 

 metal zinc, the molecules of water intercharge their atoms 

 throughout the line of the circuit, and free hydrogen is given off 

 at the surface of the other metal employed. But if this second 

 metal could be replaced by a substance having an affinity for hy- 

 drogen, a more vigorous chemical action might take place, with 

 the production of new molecules at each pole. Perhaps such a 

 double action does occasionally take place in the local circuits 

 produced in ordinary chemical action. In the case of such a 

 double action much weaker affinities than those usually em- 

 ployed might suffice. 



Yet any such galvanic chemism is necessarily temporary in its 

 action. Its activity diminishes as the analysis of the molecules 

 of the liquid is followed by the formation of new and more stable 

 compounds. There is only one possible method in which we 



1 conceive a constant reinvigorati< 



and that 1 

 continual restoration of its original conditions by re- 

 verse chemical action. Could some active atmospheric element, 

 for instance, constantly penetrate the liquid, break down its new 

 formed molecules, and reproduce the original ones, while carry- 

 ing away the neutralizing constituents, the chemical action of the 

 battery might indefinitely retain its original activity. Its lost en- 



