April 28, 1905.] 



SCIENCE. 



645 



are forms of energy, the nature of which in 

 part only has lately become known. Cer- 

 tainly it is suggestive that refinements may 

 possibly in time give us measurements of a 

 life-energy ! 



Energy activities are not seldom actu- 

 ated, directed and facilitated by certain in- 

 organic or lifeless things. These sub- 

 stances, which cause things to happen with 

 acceleration, are known technically as cata- 

 lytic agents. Sulphur dioxide and oxygen 

 when mixed appear to remain so. The 

 presence of platinum brings about a rapid 

 union. Platinum and other finely divided 

 metals convert alcohol into acetic acid, a 

 process for a long time attributable only 

 to the influence of living organisms. 



In 1828 Wohler bore down the barrier 

 between inorganic or dead matter and or- 

 ganic substances, supposed to result solely 

 through the activity of vital forces. It is 

 now well known that certain complicated 

 organic compounds of undetermined com- 

 position, as the enzymes, act as catalytic 

 agents. Complex sugars are broken down 

 into simpler sugars. Complex fats are 

 built up from simpler constituents. Al- 

 though the action may be attributed in 

 part to chemical reactions, the details of 

 the progressive and continuous action of 

 these agents are as yet little understood 

 and are demanding much attention at pres- 

 ent. 



When complex carbon compounds are 

 burned with oxygen, heat is produced. 

 The heat of this chemical action is simply 

 the resultant of the energy absorbed and 

 given out. We have so far secured no 

 way of measuring absolutely chemical 

 affinity, as we may measure heat in calories, 

 for example. When certain organic bodies 

 are mixed with oxygen without the pres- 

 ence of a living thing, or one of these 

 exciters, no evidence of chemical energy, 

 within reasonable time, has been noted. 

 However, we are by no means sure that 



there are no energy manifestations. The 

 exciter facilitates or accelerates its mani- 

 festation. The oxygen carried into the 

 lungs reacts throughout the animal tissues. 

 We are not yet ready to say how this is. 

 It is not unfair to assert, however, that the 

 energy binding the oxygen atoms together 

 in the molecule is perhaps overcome in 

 part through the organic catalytic agents 

 present. We are aware of cases of sus- 

 pended animation in which the organs re- 

 turned to the performance of their func- 

 tions. 



The term catalyzer has been confined to 

 substances and not used in reference to 

 energy agencies alone. Grove considered 

 the facts of catalysis dependent upon 

 voltaic action, 'to generate which, three 

 heterogeneous substances are always neces- 

 sary.' We know that ultra-violet light 

 will quicken the union of hydrogen and 

 chlorine. By simply holding metallic tin 

 at a definite temperature (20° C.) the 

 whole crystalline structure is altered from 

 tetragonal to rhombic. This does not oc- 

 cur at any other known temperature, re- 

 quires no foreign substance, and we are 

 unable to measure the actual energy in- 

 volved. It is not unfair, therefore, to sug- 

 gest that energy is converted under certain 

 conditions into some transformation we 

 have not yet learned to measure. Equally 

 must it be true that under conditions this 

 immeasurable form of energj' is transmuted 

 into a measurable variety. 



To the supporters of the doctrine of vital 

 force, to quote Riicker again, "the prin- 

 ciple of life was not a hidden directive 

 power which could, perhaps, whisper an 

 order that the floodgates of reservoirs of 

 energy should now be opened and now 

 closed, and could, at the most, work only 

 under immutable conditions to which the 

 living and the dead must alike submit. 

 On the contrary, their vital force pervaded 

 the organism in all its parts. It was an 



