124 On " Intertraction" between Albuminous Substances, etc. 



porous tissues, along with the serum lodged there, the microbes which may 

 be suspended in it. And reflection will show that, inasmuch as we have 

 intertraction between serum and salt solutions, our saline solution will also 

 inevitably be carried into cavities and cul-de-sacs and porous tissues. 



This being so, it would seem possible, by mixing an antiseptic with salt 

 solution, to convey this also into corners and recesses. But clearly, when 

 thus carried in, the bactericidal efficacy of the antiseptic would depend upon 

 whether it was or was not quenched by the albuminous substances with 

 which it there comes in contact. 



Comment. — The body of observations set out above would appear to invite 

 to a re-examination of the doctrine that in diffusion — or as it would seem 

 more proper to call it interfusion — we are dealing in every case with a 

 perfectly passive recipient fluid and with a disbursing fluid which has a 

 monopoly of activity. In other words, the data here obtained would seem to 

 invite some review of the doctrine that when a solute passes out from its 

 menstruum into an adjoining fluid territory, or a diluting fluid is carried into 

 a concentrated solution, dispersive forces resident in the solute are the only 

 forces which come into operation. 



While that doctrine ostensibly holds the field there is to be noted that in 

 German text-books the term Adhdsion, and in French text-books the term 

 appel are still employed in explanation of the passage of water through a 

 dialysing membrane into salt solution. In view of the observations here 

 set out it may perhaps be legitimate to put forward for consideration 

 whether the term Adhdsion (which would have as its English equivalent 

 " binding or conjoining force ") and the term appel (which might perhaps 

 be translated into the invocation " come hither ") are simply a figure of speech, 

 a figure behind which there lurks nothing substantial and objective. 



And if it be permissible to generalise from the case of what happens when 

 albuminous substances and saline solutions are brought into conjunction, 

 it may be suggested that it would be appropriate explicitly to recognise the 

 existence of tractor or drawing forces, and more generally of intertraction 

 as an agency which may co-operate with diffusion and assist in bringing 

 about interfusion. 



