A Theory of Ferments and Their Action. 
27 
is believed that atoms possess, among other properties, that of constant 
motion in time, periods, and in other characters perhaps, which char- 
acterize each species or kind of atom, one kind from another. The 
phenomena of spectroscopy are made intelligible by this hypothesis. 
MOLECULES. 
Molecules are regarded as the smallest part of a compound which 
are capable of retaining the properties of the substance; when divided 
beyond this point molecules are broken up into atoms. It is believed 
that the number and kind of atoms which compose a molecule, and the 
spatial relations of its atoms, are factors which determine both the' 
nature and the energy of the molecule. 
THE UNIVERSAL ETHER. 
Existence of a universal ether which pervades all space (interstellar, 
interplanetary, intermolecular, and interatomic), and receives, con- 
serves, and transmits as energy the ether waves produced by the motions 
of ponderable matter, is accepted as it must be to explain the phenomena 
of the universe. 
WAVE INTERFERENCE. 
The mutual neutralization of the waves of light, as seen in “New- 
ton’s Rings,” when the crest of one wave falls upon the trough of 
another, or the neutralization of two sound waves, one by the other, 
afford example of the action of an important principle in nature, of 
wide application, which Sir John Herschel says, “For beauty, simplic- 
ity, and extent of application has hardly its equal in the whole circle 
of science.” This principle or law of wave interference plays an 
exceedingly important role in the biophysical theory. An instance of 
this is the adjustment of antagonisms between the interatomic ether 
waves of a molecule and the conversion of antagonistic into adjusted 
waves — molecular waves-™- which, it is believed, give molecules the poten- 
tial energy that structure gives to matter. The molecular ether waves 
which result from interference and adjustment represent, first, the 
number, and kind of atoms within the molecules; second, the order of 
their arrangement or stereo-chemical configuration of the molecules ; 
and, third, molecular energy,' the particular form of which will vary 
with the structure of the molecule. When considered in this light, a 
new meaning is given to the term molecular structure and energy. We 
mentally behold a number of atoms arranged in characteristic groups, 
and vibrating in distinctive periods, imparting their own motions to 
