478 Organic Physics. [June, 



The protoplasmic mass which constitutes the nucleus is an ag- 

 gregation of highly complex chemical molecules similar, perhaps, 

 in constitution, but which may differ considerably in the degree 

 of satisfaction of their affinities. Some may be neutral, some 

 acid, and some basic salts of the same chemical compound. If 

 such be the case we can comprehend the polarity of the nucleus. 

 The arrangement of its molecules may be but an expansion of the 

 principle of arrangement of the polar constituents of a neutral salt 

 molecule. This has its acid and its basic pole ; and we can im- 

 agine the molecules of the nuclear unit to be similarly arranged, 

 not only with the acid and the basic poles of each turned in op- 

 posite directions, but with the molecules of acid affinity occupying 

 one pole, and those of basic affinity the other pole, of the n>i- 



For this to be the case, however, some influencing agency is 

 requisite, such as that of external chemical affinity. In short, the 

 polarity of the nucleus may represent that of a galvanic circuit with 

 active chemical affinity at each pole. The two poles of the nu- 

 cleus may represent the acid and basic poles of such a circuit, and 

 the nutrient material, the zinc and copper, or whatever other sub- 

 stances are employed. If such be indeed the character of the 

 nuclear polarity we can comprehend various results which are 

 now mysterious to us. The assimilation of nutriment by such a 

 polar arrangement would be a strictly chemical process, the op- 

 posite poles taking up respectively basic and acid material. But 

 the activity of this circuit, if dependant upon its own energies 

 alone, must quickly come to an end through the satisfaction of 

 the polar affinities and the chemical neutralization of the mole- 

 cules. 



At this point the agency of oxygen comes in. This energetic 

 element attacks and partly breaks down the complex proteid 

 molecules, and restores to them their lost affinities. Through its 

 action the original activity of these molecules is regained. ;>nd 

 they again vigorously attract the chemical radicals of the nu- 

 triment. Thus the probably small quantity of material carried 

 off by every act of oxidation is perhaps replaced by the assimila- 

 tion of larger and more complex molecules from the nutriment, 

 and the protoplasmic mass grows in consequence. 



This, of course, is all pure hypothesis. We are ignorant of, 

 and perhaps may always remain ignorant of the facts that would 



