196 
The Organisation of Matter. 
[April, 
attraction, so that it is reduced to a level surface. Yet the 
minor aggregations of which it is composed escape these 
influences, and very likely are globular in form. The liquid, 
in fa<ft, differs from the gas in that it has lost its impact 
resistance to pressure, and has become an aggregation of 
molecules similar to the aggregation of ethereal particles in 
the atom. Having no mass motion, and therefore no impaCt 
resistance, the rotating liquid globes are in contadf, their only 
resistance to pressure being that of elasticity. 
As the complexity of molecules increases their attractive 
vigour diminishes. They cease to combine into the rigid 
solid, but display in their combinations the globular aggre- 
gation of the liquid, forming what is known as the colloid 
state of matter. These colloid globes are more coherent 
than ordinary liquid globes, and retain their individuality, 
instead of readily fusing as liquids ordinarily do. But an 
incomplete fusion often appears between them, and combines 
them into coherent masses. Usually, in their individual 
form, they are not subjeCf to the influences affecting the 
drop of liquid, since they exist as single masses in liquids, 
where they are not exposed to pressure. But certain influ- 
ences, possibly of an attractive or repulsive character, aCt to 
overcome the feeble centripetal energy of the colloid masses, 
and to change their globular into an irregular form. These 
yield a result not unlike that which pressure and cohesion 
produce on the liquid drop. The main difference is that the 
feebler centripetal energy of the liquid drop causes it to 
readily break up into several individuals, while the colloid is 
more persistent in its aggregation. Yet new centres of force 
often arise in its irregular protrusions, or appear in its midst 
when it becomes of considerable size. In short, it displays 
curious analogies to the aCtion of liquid drops. These phe- 
nomena, however, take place under influences different from 
those which produce like changes in liquids, and a further 
consideration of them would lead us from physical into 
biological science. 
One further deduction seems to arise from our premises. 
Let us define the molecule. We may view it as a single 
centripetally organised mass of matter, composing a natural 
unit or individual, and whatever answers this definition 
should rightfully be classed as a molecular aggregate. The 
simple atom is thus a molecule of the original ether. From 
this atom more complex molecules arise, until we reach the 
most intricate organic molecule. But higher definite aggre- 
gations of matter answer to the same definition. They are 
single centripetal aggregations of minor elements. Such is 
