ORGANIC PHYSICS. 



BV CHARLES MORRIS. 



( 'Continued fro:n July number.) 

 T)UT it is necessary to more particularly examine this peculiar 

 •*-' organic synthesis, through which a germinal cell is produced 

 containing molecular energies derived from every portion of the 

 body. The leucocytes appear to generally answer the require- 

 ments, but in an organism so complex as that of the human body, 

 we should naturally look for something more than a mere chance 

 a gS re g at ion of cellular germs into a completely generalized germ. 

 Such a process would be most likely to yield few perfectly or- 

 ganized germs, and the production of abnormal should far exceed 

 that of normal embryos. Evidently the continuance of the 

 human species would be impossible unless full provision were 

 made for the complete union of these cellular germs. And if 

 such provision be made, the organs ad.ipted to it can scarcely be 

 invisible to us. 



In fact, as we have in the leucocyte an active cellular organism 

 whose duty in the body has been a puzzle to physiologists, so we 

 find organs in the body alike puzzling. And significantly these 

 organs seem devoted only to the formation of leucocytes. They 

 constitute the lymphatic vascular system, and the ductless glands, 

 including those of both the vascular systems of the body. 



Physiologically there seems no especial necessity for the 

 lymphatic vessels. Why should there be two separate vascular 

 systems, each permeating every portion of the body, and only 

 joining into one at a single point in their whole extensive course? 

 We know the main purposes of the blood system, but the duty 

 ascribed to the lymphatic system is one that inadequately ex- 

 plains the existence of such an extensive system of vessels. If 

 the blood capillaries exude a blastema for the immediate nutrition 

 of the tissues, and if after nutrition is performed there remains a 

 liquid containing the waste material of the tissues, it certainly 

 seems as if the blood capillaries might be capable of reabsorbing 

 this liquid, and that there would not be required for the duty of 

 conveying it to the blood a second system of vessels equally ex- 

 tensive with that of the veins and arteries. 



We should naturally look for some other duty in the lymphatic 

 vessels, while the conveyance of waste should be looked upon as 

 a secondary duty. And such a primary duty may present itself 



