of Edinburgh, Session 1883 - 84 . 
959 
and ABEF at another, while the wave lines joining CD and EF 
respectively denote those deviations from the average partition, 
termed riches and poverty. But, as was pointed out in the pre- 
ceding paragraph, tliough these phenomena can he observed, their 
explanation does not come within our present province. 
§ 20. Quantity of Ultimate Products per aggregate time. Synergy. 
— The summation of the quantities of product in successive times, 
though seldom considered, must, notwithstanding, be attempted. 
Taking the year as our unit time, the quantity of production per 
lustrum, decade, generation, century, even per economic age, must all 
be inquired into, and the ultimate aspect, the highest generalisation 
of production, is that of the collective production of mankind — of 
the Synergy of the Race, with its material products, transitory and 
permanent. 
^21. Quality of Ultimate Products .- — The problem of classifying 
the ultimate products now arises. These are frequently arranged (1) 
according to their sources, or (2) according to the processes by which 
they are obtained, while (3) the only plan which really treats them 
as ultimate products at all, arranges them according to their relation 
to the consumers (these being, as already explained, from the present 
point of view mere automata needing fuel, shelter, covering, &c.). 
Ultimate products are thus commonly classified by economists, yet 
an important rectification is necessary. 
The number of consumer-automata being definite per unit time, 
the quantity of ultimate products required per unit time f necessOoriet 
of life ”), fuel, shelter, &c., for their structural and functional main- 
tenance is also perfectly definite and ascertainable. Without enter- 
ing upon an elaborate yet practicable investigation of the details of 
this, it is evident that a criterion is furnished us by the durability 
of the automata in question. For, if these last the normal time, it 
is evident that the necessaries for normal maintenance cannot to any 
serious extent have been deficient. Thus we should expect a priori 
considerable definiteness of quality and quantity of ultimate products 
through all variations of space and time ; yet rather the reverse 
seems observable. For a Eussian, Norseman, and Scot, living in much 
the same geographical conditions and for much the same time, the 
quantity of ultimate products consumed per annum is enormously 
