1 882.] Organic Physics. 479 



prove or disprove it. Yet we have no reason to doubt that the 

 assimilation of nutriment is a chemical process ; we know that 

 the nucleus is a polar organization, we know that oxidation is 

 essential to its activity, and that the chemical relations here sup- 

 posed are in accordance with those that exist, or might possibly 

 exist, in the active liquid of the galvanic battery. Thus the basis 

 of the hypothesis is not unreasonable ; and it may be shown that 

 certain of its necessary results are strikingly in accordance with 

 some of the most abstruse phenomena of organic life. If the 

 hypothesis here advanced should prove a key to unlock the mys- 

 tery of these phenomena, and the organic unit have in its chemi- 

 cal organization the essential elements of the most specialized 

 life conditions, our hypothesis will certainly become worthy of 



For such a polar arrangement of acid and basic molecules to 

 be fully effective, it seems necessary that each pole should be in 

 full vigor. Their energies mutually support and aid each other. 

 Any check to the action of the basic pole, for instance, would 

 check that of the acid pole. The chemical activity of the one is 

 rendered possible by the chemical activity of the other, and there 

 may take place an interchange of the constituents of the mole- 

 cules like that supposed to occur in the water molecules of the 

 battery. Hence the chemical activity of the nucleus would be 

 controlled by that of its least vigorous pole, and for its fullest 

 activity the poles must be equal in energy, and this energy be 

 raised to its highest level of vigor. 



As for the aid of oxygen in the process, it is not probable that 

 the oxidation is an immediate accompaniment of the chemical 

 action. Oxygen is constantly making its way into the organic 

 cells, and it is probable that a slow oxidation continually goes on, 

 ,ts quantity .depending upon the vascularity of the organ con- 

 cerned. Under special circumstances, as o( irritation of the ner- 

 vous and muscular tissues, oxidation seems to become suddenly 

 •nvigorated, and a considerable breaking down of the organic 

 molecules takes place, with a vigorous discharge of energy. But 

 ev ery act of oxidation puts the nuclear molecules in a condition 

 for active chemical assimilation, so that if the requisite nutrient 

 ma terial is provided, the loss is quickly repaired, and new proteid 

 ^'ecules, specially sensitive to the affinity of oxygen are pro- 

 ved. And so the wheels of life roll on, and growth replaces 

 Waste. 



