MODERN STEPS OF PROGRESS. 



II 



undertake with success the closer investigation of those actions 

 we call " life; " the proteids of the living cells must have another 

 chemical constitution than that of the dead cells." And 1} : 

 " It is of essential significance, that albuminous substances isolat- 

 ed at very low temperatures from living animals, are of a very 

 changeable character, as for instance the blood plasm, the oxy- 

 haemoglobin, the myosin." " The most important function, nay 

 even the most characteristic feature of life itself is the formation 

 of labil albumen molecules." 2 J 



O. Rosenbach, discussing the vital phenomena 3) concludes: 

 " Death is the suspension of the labil equilibrium of atoms in 

 the living matter." Among the plant-physiologists was Detmcr 

 the only one, who defended the new ideas ; but his modifications 

 will hardly find approval. He assumes, that the atoms of the 

 " living albumen molecules " are in such a lively motion, that a 

 continuous dissociation of the albumen-molecules takes place, 

 forming thereby on the one hand non-nitrogenous substances as 

 glucose and on the other amides. By this dissociation respiration is 

 induced, and the other vital phenomena are made possible. 4) Such 

 a hypothesis however is incompatible with the great sensibility 

 of the protoplasm towards every disturbing influence. The con- 

 tinuous regeneration supposed by Detmcr would be simply an 

 impossibility's death would have resulted from the dissociation. 

 The view of Detmcr would well nigh answer for a description of a 

 protoplasm committing suicide. 



1) Ber. d. Deutschen Chem. Ges. Vo!. 18, p. 385. 



2) Pflugers Arch. Vol. 31, p. 336. 



3) Aufgaben der Therapie, Chapt. 14. (1S91). 



4) Vergleichende Physiologie des Keimungsprocesses, Jena 18S0. — Ber. d. Deut- 

 schen Botan. Ges. 1893. 



