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ELECTRICAL PHYSIOLOGY

OR

ELECTRO-CHEMIC ENERGY vs. OXYGENATION
OF THE HUMAN BLOOD.

A Lecture delivered before the National Eclectic Medical Association at Indianapolis, Ind.. June 11. 1903

BY

ALBERT J.. ATKINS, M. D.,

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Francisco County Society Physicians and Surgeons ; Member of Eclectic

Medical Society of The State of California ; Permanent Member of

National Eclectic Medical Association ; Author of " The Life

Principle ;" Member of The Press Club of Chicago, etc.

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COPYRIGHT BY THE AUTHOR.
1903.

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2008 with funding from

Microsoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/electricalphysioOOatkirich

ELECTRICAL PHYSIOLOGY OR ELECTRO-CHEMIC ENERGY

vs.
OXYGENATION OF THE HUMAN BLOOD.

ALBERT J. ATKINS, M. D., SAN FRANCISCO.
A Lecture delivered before the National Eclectic Medical Association at Indianapolis, Ind., June 11, 1903.

Mr. President and Fellow Members :

After much study and careful experiment, I have concluded that the pro-
cess of revitalization of the blood in the capillaries of the lungs is due to the
action of electro-chemic energy, and that oxygen does not pass into the blood
by osmosis.

In the following paper I submit to you an account of my experiments, and
a brief history of the course of reasoning that has led me to this important
conclusion, so widely differing from the present accepted theories.

Although the theory of osmosis has been generally received, it has not been
proven. Thoughtful physiologists have admitted this; for instance, Dalton,
in his "Human Physiology" says, page 537, "When we endeavor to learn
the place and manner of oxidation in the living body, the attempt fails.
There is no evidence of such direct action taking place in the circulating fluid,
nor in any of the organs or tissues." Again, on page 257, he says: "The
blood collects or disseminates substances which have already been prepared
in other parts, and, as a general rule, conveys them unchanged to their des-
tinations. Even a substance like pyrogallic acid, so readily oxidizable in an
alkaline solution that it is employed for the quantitative determination of
oxygen in the air, when introduced into the animal system passes through it
unchanged and reappears in the urine. There is no evidence that the blood
exerts anywhere a direct oxidizing action."

Further, in reference to this subject, "Howell's American Text Book of

178771

Physiology," page 537, says: "Most of the studies have been made solely by
determinations of the quantities of carbon dioxide given off in respiration,
the results being taken as standards for the relative volumes of oxygen ab-
sorbed ; but such deductions are of very uncertain value, and may be entirely
misleading."

With such authorities leading the way to doubt, it is not presumptuous
to turn to new lines of reasoning to find rational explanation for the vital
phenomena taking place in the human system. Consequently I offer the fol-
lowing analysis of the existing conditions, with a feeling that it will bear the
most exacting tests.

In the human lungs two great circulations meet — that of the blood, and
that of the atmosphere. These circulations moving in opposite directions,
bring together elements which have mutual attraction. Under the influence
of heat these elements unite — generating electro-chemic energy, which puri-
fies the blood, and thus sustains the life of the organism.

That oxygen and carbon are found in the chemical constituents of the blood
can not be denied; but that these elements reach it by a process of osmosis
is indeed very questionable. Neither can it be shown in a single instance
that these elements unite in any form while they are circulating in the blood.
In the course of analysis, it will be shown that the supply of oxygen and of
carbon found in the blood and tissues reach the system through the route of
digestion.

A strong argument against the theory of osmosis, or diffusion of gases lies
in the fact of the greater resistance offered by living membranes, and by the
pressure of the blood exerted against that of the atmosphere. The proof of
greater pressure is shown by the hemorrhage which results if the smallest
opening is made in the air-sac of the lung. Notice how carefully Nature
guards the possibility of hemorrhage in tubercular lungs, by infiltrating large
areas about the point of infection. Another instance is seen in the provision
of an artery for the passage of venous blood from the heart to the lungs — the
only place in the human system where an artery is used for the conveyance of
venous blood.

In regard to filtration or osmosis, Howell says, in "The American Text
Book of Physiology," page 156: "It has been shown that living membranes
offer considerable resistance of filtration, even when liquid pressure on one
side is much greater than on the other. Tigerstedt and Santessen, for in-
stance, found that a lung taken from a frog just killed gave no filtrate when
its cavity was extended by liquid, under a pressure of 18 to 20 centimetres —
provided the liquid used was one that did not injure the tissues. If, how-
ever, the lung tissue was killed by heat or otherwise, filtration occurred
readily under the same pressure."

In my own experiment on fresh lungs from Uhe sheep. I have repeatedly

demonstrated that the lungs can be inflated with pure oxygen gas and they
will keep so for forty-eight hours, without loss of oxygen. In these experi-
ments the heart was always removed, and all blood-vessels leading away from
the lungs were cleared of clots and left open. The lungs were kept in a
normal salt solution, at a temperature of 98° F. At the end of the time men-
tioned the lung tissue showed signs of decomposition, owing to the action of
the gas and water; consequently there was then a loss of oxygen.

Moreover, I have performed tracheotomy on the living animal, killing it as
soon as the lungs could be inflated with oxygen gas and the trachea tied. In
every instance, upon opening the thoracic cavity, the lungs were found to be
inflated to their fullest capacity, remaining so for an indefinite period without
loss of oxygen.

Furthermore, the living membrane of the lungs is protected from the dif-
fusion of gaseous matter, by the mucous secretion from its secretory cells, and
still more so by the extreme swiftness with which the current of life-force
passes through it.

Living membranes absorb and secrete elements through organs which
Nature has prepared for that purpose. These organs of secretion and absorp-
tion may be stimulated or sedated by various influences, and they mark the
difference in Nature's methods of transfering elements in simple and in com-
plex forms of organic life. My experiments prove that oxygen may be sealed
in a pair of fresh lungs, and these can be carried about as though they were
an oxygen bag.

It is the office of venous blood to collect waste products from the tissues,
and carry them to the organs of exit. It has been mentioned, and it is a fact
that all excretions of waste material take place through glands and ducts of
organs, as in the skin and kidneys, and it would be unreasonable to consider
the lungs an exception to this general rule of organic life.

It is estimated that about five hundred grammes of carboniferous, decaying
animal matter are excreted from the lungs every twenty-four hours. It is
claimed by some physiologists that all this mass of decaying matter passes out
of the blood by exmosis during the time of expiration. Venous blood is ex-
posed to the influence of atmosphere about one and one-half seconds ; during
this time it is supposed to give up carbon-dioxide, and to receive sufficient
oxygen to furnish energy for the entire system.

There is no evidence that carbon-di-oxide is formed in the blood. Dalton,
in "Human Physiology," page 257, says: "In the blood, the plasma consists
mainly of organic substances in solution, and oxygen is abundant in the glob-
ules in a state of loose combination. But the union of carbon and oxygen
does not take place in the blood."

The chemical analysis of venous blood shows more carbon in its compo-
sition than does that of arterial blood. When compared with inspired air

6

expired air shows a gain in carbon in union with oxygen in the form of car-
bon-dioxide. It has been shown that the union of carbon and oxygen does
not take place within the blood stream, hence it is obvious that the lungs
excrete carbon, and that the union between carbon and oxygen of expired air
must take place in the lungs, outside of the blood stream. It is evident that
the larger portion of the oxygen of inspired air unites with carbon at this
point, and therefore could not pass into the blood by osmosis.

The excretions of the lungs represent elements of decomposition, material
from the tissues undergoing retrograde metamorphosis. In the "American
Text Book of Physiology," page 944, the author says: "Through putrefac-
tion hydrogen is liberated." Further, on the same page, he continues: "In
putrefaction in the presence of oxygen, the hydrogen formed immediately
unites with the oxygen, producing water ; hence, notwithstanding the enor-
mous amount of putrefaction in the world there is no accumulation of hydro-
gen in the atmosphere." The liberation of hydrogen from the decaying
excretions of the lungs explains the presence of watery vapor in expired air.
It is well known that there are but slight traces of hydrogen in pure atmos-
phere ; it is equally well known that there is a considerable quantity of watery
vapor in expired air. Therefore, it is evident that hydrogen thus liberated
would, under the influence of electro-chemic energy, unite with oxygen of
atmosphere, forming water, which becomes vaporized by the heated condition
of the lungs. In this union between hydrogen and oxygen of air, together
with the before-mentioned union of excreted carbon and oxygen of the air,
will be found every molecule of atmospheric oxygen which is supposed to pass
into the blood by osmosis.

Oxygen of air is a cooling, para-magnetic element; its molecules move
in pairs. Under the influence of heat these molecules expand, thus becoming
more gaseous; this disturbs their magnetic polarity and breaks their chemical
bonds. When the bonds of chemical affinity between the molecules of any
substance are broken by heat, expansion, electrolysis or other means, electro-
chemic energy is generated. This energy is positive or negative in character
according to the nature of the elements from which it originates.

Oxygen is found chemically combined with arterial blood. Before oxygen
of air could unite with blood, circulating as it does in a closed system of
tubes, it must be reduced to a fluid state. According to physics there are but
two methods of reducing gases to fluids — these are by pressure, or by cooling
agencies, neither of which conditions exist in the lungs.

The temperature of air averages from 60° to 70° F., while the temperature
of the human lungs is nearly 100° F. ; consequently, in the human lungs we
have a cool current of air meeting the resistance of heated surfaces, a con-
dition which forbids the reduction of gases to fluids but which favors electro-
chemic action.

The temperature of venous blood is higher than that of arterial blood, and
its energy is of a negative character, consequently, by law of opposite attrac-
tions, its energy and heat are drawn toward the new field of action caused
by the molecular rearrangement of elements taking place in the lungs outside
the blood stream. It must be kept in mind that heat is a form of electro-
chemic energy, and the cooling, watery vapors of the lungs are a good con-
ductor for it.

Draper, in "Medical Physics," page 234, says: "Chemical affinity, heat,
motion, magnetism, electricity and light are convertible one into another."
Massey, in his "Conservative Gynecology and Electro-Therapeutics," in a
foot-note on page 39, says: "Chemic affinity is now understood to be identical
with electric affinity."

The negative oxygen elements of inspired air meet the positive carbon ele-
ments which are excreted by the lungs from venous blood. Through the
influence of heat molecular rearrangement ensues, and by the nature of the
elements rearranged positive electro-chemic energy results.

It is a fundamental law of chemistry that molecular rearrangement, with
chemical union, always produces electro-chemic energy. By the action of
opposite attractions, and by the conductivity of oxygen elements the positive
energy of the new field is drawn to the negative blood.

" Venous blood is distributed to the lungs by the pulmonary artery, whose
terminal branches form a plexus of capilliary vessels surrounding the air-cells.
The air and blood are thus brought into intimate relationship being separated
only by the delicate wall of the capillary. A capillary frequently passes
through an aperture in the cell wall but never becomes altogether free from
it, and no blood escapes into the air-sac during its passage." — Gray's Anatomy.

In the extremity of the bronchiac we also find non-insulation in the air-sac,
showing that Nature has prepared the way for the transmission of electro-
chemic energy.

In Gray's Anatomy," it is said: "The mucous membrane of the trachea and
bronchial tubes is pierced by many excretory glands; it is also covered with
columnar epithelium." This epithelium acts as a complete insulation to the
escape of any electric energy produced within the tubes; but the terminal
bronchial tubes lose their epithelium and muscular eoat at about one-eighth
of an inch from the most distant air-cells to which they may lead, and are
thus reduced to a single basement membrane. Thus it also becomes non-
insulated to facilitate the transmission of energy to the blood.

Residual air of the lungs, with the saline, watery elements, plays an impor-
tant part in the conduction of electro-chemic energy to and from the blood.
Residual air being heavier than tidal air, is drawn back and forth to and from
the air-sac, transmitting the energy to and from the blood with perfect, ryth-
mic action, similar to the action of a to and fro current. Residual air of the

8

lungs always remains about the same in quantity; its quality is maintained by
constant motion of its molecules, the supply of which is renewed by continual
interchange with tidal air.

Venous blood is cooled slightly by evaporation in the lungs, and by loss of
carbon and hydrogen.

The liberation of hydrogen from the watery elements of the blood, by elec-
trolytic action leaves free oxygen in the blood stream, which accounts for the
excess of free oxygen in arterial blood, as will be fully elucidated in the
course of analysis.

The blood, as a whole, is dia-magnetic, that is, it has a tendency to throw
out force from, and at right angles to its center. This being a fact, it would
be impossible to form an attractive magnetic field in the blood current, if
Nature had not placed para-magnetic iron with the 55 per cent of carbon in
the hemoglobin.

The carbon attracted by the iron forms a magnet which, when charged with
electro-chemic energy, creates a current in the center of the blood stream,
causing this part to move more rapidly than the surrounding parts of the
fluid.

Oxygen of venous blood, made free by the loss of hydrogen, is attracted to
the positive carbon, and arranges itself in a loose manner at right angles to
the carbon of hemoglobin. None of these elements unite on account of the
inflow of electro-chemic energy from the atmosphere at this point. It is a law
of electrolytic action that the movement of a current through a fluid decom-
poses its elements and prevents union which would otherwise take place.
This action explains why carbon di-oxide is not formed in the blood ; it also
shows why there is no coagulation in circulating blood.

In experimenting on venous blood, I have submitted the coagulated blood
to the action of currents of galvanic electricity with the following results:
coagulated blood was made fluid, also its color was changed and rechanged,
according to the application of the electrodes.

When venous blood is subjected to the action of an electric current the
molecular arrangement is disturbed and altered. The instant a current enters
the blood there is great activity among its elements — they begin to circulate
freely, and each moves toward the point of electrical attraction. Carbon,
hydrogen and all other positive elements are torn from their union with other
elements of the blood, and collect at the negative pole of the circuit, while
oxygen and all negative elements collect at the positive pole.

The carboniferous elements at the negative pole give to the blood its dark,
venous hue, while those,' of free oxygen and other negative elements at the
positive pole give the characteristic scarlet hue to arterial blood, showing
clearly that electro-chemic action is the cause of change of color in the blood.

We have shown that energy results from the chemical changes which take

9

place in the lungs outside the blood stream. This energy conducted by the
elements of residual air, and confined by the insulation of the bronchial
tubes passes on to the non-insulated air-sacs and capillaries, where it enters the
negative venous blood. The instant this energy reaches the blood it causes
it to glow with a new life; its color changes by the vitalizing effect of the
charge, and consequent rearrangement of its molecules.

Here is the beginning of the circulation of life. Here is the power which
transforms venous into arterial blood and starts it upon its mission of main-
taining life in the human organism.

In applying electro-chemic principles to the human organism it becomes
necessary to use familiar terms common to electrical nomenclature, but it must
be borne in mind that while the energy in the organism works upon the same
plan as electrical energy everywhere, yet here we have a higher order, and a
more complex arrangement of action. In the living organism we have some-
thing better than a machine, something that is self-adjusting, self-repairing,
growing, constantly changing condition, therefore the comparisons are neces-
sarily crude; nevertheless, they help us to mentally grasp certain principles
which will lead us to a better understanding of phenoma which has hitherto
baffled analysis.

There are two great sources from which the human system gains its supply
of electro-chemic energy; one is from the atmosphere, the other is from the
reduction of food elements. One is organic, the other is largely inorganic.
The intermingling of energy from these two sources maintains organic life of
the highest order.

It is now accepted by leading scientists that all matter is energy condensed
into different forms. It is my opinion that energy is a form of matter in
rapid vibratory motion.

All fluids and food structures used in the economy of the human system
represents a certain refined, or stored energy, which under proper conditions
may be liberated to perform functions in higher organic life. These elements
have passed through many evolutionary processes of refinement. In the
energy which maintains human life we find the blending of forces which are
respectively the highest product of the organic and inorganic kingdoms of
Nature.

In reference to the chemistry of the animal body, Howell's " Text Book of
Physiology," page 962, says: "The chlorophyll-containing leaf of the plant,
through the medium of the energy of the sun's rays, brings the molecules of
water and carbonic oxide derived from the air in such a position with regard
to each other that they unite to form sugar with the elimination of oxygen;
this process is called synthesis — the construction of a more complicated body
from simple ones.

The active, or "kinetic" energy from the sun required to build up the com-

10

pound is stored, becoming "potential" energy in that compound, and is
liberated again in exactly the same quantity on the resolution of the sub-
stance into its original constituents.

So the amount of energy liberated in decomposition of a food in the body
is exactly equal to the energy needed to build it up from its excreted constit-
uents; and this liberated energy appears in the body as heat, work and electric
currents."

The electro-chemic energy which is liberated from the reduction of food
structures in the human system is negative, or lower in potential to that which
is produced in the lungs from the atmosphere. The exchange between these
two electro-chemic energies keeps in action that vast system of forces which
we know as human life.

Physiologists must recognize that no chemical changes can take place in
the human system without the liberation of electro-chemic energy from the
elements undergoing transformation. The blood is the physical conductor of
electro-chemic energy to tissues, organs and nerves of the human system. It
is composed of many elements and structures, all of which have an especial
purpose in the economy of nature.

Digestion prepares food structures to enter the circulation for further re-
duction. Chyle does not represent the final step in the reduction of food
structures, as these must be reduced to energy before they are fitted to
become a sustaining part of the vital organism.

The ultimate step in the reduction of structures transpires in the blood; at
each circuit of blood some of the compounds are torn apart by electrolytic
action ; each time a compound is broken a certain amount of stored energy is
released from the elements of that compound, and thus becomes a part of the
sustaining energy of the system. When structures are completely reduced
they are not destroyed, but having parted with their portion of energy they
are no longer useful to the system, and consequently pass away from it. as
waste, or retrograde products, or elements.

Every particle of food that is used by the system must be converted into
energy before it plays its part in the functions of the organism. Here is the
secret of vitality; here we gain the force that keeps our bodies alive. These
products of digestion act similarly to the zincs and carbons of a battery; they
are slowly converted into force by numerous rounds of circulation in the sys-
tem. At each circuit they are acted upon by various organs, each one of
which has its own peculiar function. It is thus that the products of digestion
finally reach that most refined condition known as vital force.

When the products of digestion are poured into venous blood they consist
of a fluid which is composed of many structures. Water forms a large per-
centage of this compound; from the source of digestion, also, comes the
supply of oxygen, carbon and other elements, which must be subjected to

11

»

electrolytic action in the blood, in order to render them useful in the organism.
When the watery elements of digestion undergo electrolytic action in the
blood stream the bonds of union between hydrogen and oxygen are broken;
this frees a sufficient supply of each of these elements for all uses of the sys-
tem. By this method, and from this source the system is supplied with
needful elements.

The two great circulations, of air and of blood, move in opposite directions,
rotating with as absolute a precision as the planets of the solar system.

In an electrical sense, the capillaries of the lungs and the capillaries of the
systemic circulation represent a positive and negative relation toward each
other; yet, taking the blood as a whole, the positive and negative poles of the
atmospheric electro-chemic circuit are in the lungs; that is, the arterial blood,
which is positively charged, starts out from the lungs to perform its office to
the system, and represents the outgoing current of energy. Venous blood,
which has become negative through loss of a portion of its atmospheric
energy, returns to the lungs for revitalization, and represents the return cur-
rent of negative energy.

Arterial blood is the distributor to the system, while venous blood is the
eollector from the system. The latter is loaded with carbon and hydrogen —
positive elements which have been decomposed during their rounds of circu-
lation. According to electric laws, the positive elements decomposed in the
atmospheric circuit would naturally collect at the negative pole for excretion.

The arteries leading from the heart are strong, cylindrical tubes, insulated
throughout their length for the purpose of confining the blood and its energy,
thus conducting the energy to its proper point of distribution, the capillaries.
If it were not for this insulation of the blood vessels the dia-magnetic action
of the blood would cause the energy to be distributed too soon. The arteries
rapidly diminish in size, until in the capillaries they become microscopic, and
loose their insulation, thus permitting free electrical exchange in the tissues.

In the capillaries, the minuteness of the channels causes resistance to the
passing electro-chemic energy in the blood. This resistance produces electro-
ehemic heat, with consequent molecular rearrangement and change of color.
The heat produced in this manner helps to maintain an even temperature in
the body. Oxygen is set free at this point to enter the lymph spaces, and
carbon is collected from the tissues. Here, also, the nerves terminate in
such a manner as to be in direct communication with the stream of life,
and thus become the finer conductors of vital energy to all parts of the
human system.

Scudder, in "Principles of Medicine," page 47, quotes Prof. Youmans as
follows: "As it is now admitted that no chemical change can occur without
electrical excitement, and as the human body is a mass of rapidly changing
•chemical materials, it must be the theater of extensive electrical movements;

12

though to demonstrate this has been one of the most difficult and delicate
problems of science. The blood is an alkaline fluid, while the juice of the
flesh is acid, and the two liquids are only separated by the thin walls of the
vessels. By the action of these fluids there must be in every mass of muscle
myriads of electric currents. Matteucci has proved that currents of electricity
are circulating in the frames of all animals. The smallest shreds of muscular
tissue have been proved by Dubois Raymond to manifest currents, the longi-
tudinal section being always positive to the transverse section.

Every cell in the human body is an organ which, under proper stimulus of
electro-chemic energy, absorbs, secretes or excretes elements suitable to the
function it performs in the living economy.

When the blood passes from the capillaries into the veins it is in a negative
condition, having parted with the greater portion of atmospheric energy. It
travels slowly in consequence of loss of energy, but the increase in number
and the constantly widening channels of the veins offer little resistance to it&
passage, and thus facilitate its return.

In traversing the circuit of circulation there are many changes in the mole-
cular arrangements of the elements composing the blood. This causes seem-
ing losses and apparent gains, but if we examine these from an electro-chemic
standpoint, and with due consideration of the digestive supply, we shall find
that they consist in rearrangement, and wherever an element is given up to the
tissues its loss to the blood stream is supplied from some other organ, before
the circuit is completed.

Thus we can account for all of the elements made use of in the mainten-
ance of the system, and know the source from whence they come.

When venous blood leaves the heart to enter the lungs for revitalization, it
has in its composition all the elements of arterial blood, except the energy
which the latter had received from the atmosphere, and to regain which ven-
ous blood returns to the lungs. For without this energy which passes from
the atmosphere to the blood there could be no reduction of food elements in
the blood stream, they would remain unchanged — their stored energy could
not be released because their bonds of chemical union would remain unbroken.

The human organism, as a whole, is a vast electro-chemic laboratory, where-
in are generated electro-chemic forces whose action sustains the life of the
body, keeping its fluids in circulation.

These forces remain vital through constant interchange with those of the
atmosphere; the point of this interchange is the lungs. The electro-chemic
forces of the body are liberated through reduction of food elements.

The atmospheric electro-chemic energy is generated in the lungs by mole-
cular rearrangement and chemical change of atmospheric gases. The energy
in the human body is negative to that of the atmosphere, hence there is
mutual attraction and circulation of energy between them; this constitutes the

13

circulation of life, bringing together, as it does, the highest product of all
Nature's Kingdoms.

"We have shown how the blood receives positive electro-chemic energy in
the lungs — how this energy acts upon the various food elements in the blood
in such a manner as to release their contained or stored energy, which is
negative to that of the atmospheric energy. We have noted the insulated
blood vessels, and have seen how this insulation is removed within the capil-
laries so that energy may be taken up by the nervous system to be used in
the economy of the organism.

We have seen how this return flow of energy through venous blood collects
the waste or retrograde products at its negative pole, for exit through excre-
tion. These waste products, positive in their nature, are now descending in
the scale toward lower forms of life, where Nature, in her wonderful conser-
vation of energy, utilizes them.

Attention has been called to the fact that carbon and hydrogen decomposed
by electrolysis in the blood stream collects at the lungs for excretion, and
when excreted these elements leave in the venous blood free oxygen for mole-
cular rearrangement in arterial blood.

It has been shown how liberated hydrogen, in the presence of oxygen,
unites with that element to form the watery vapors of expired air, and how
carbon unites with oxygen, forming carbon-dioxide, producing the positive
energy which pm*ifies and renews the life of the blood. These elements have
now performed their office in the human system, and are expelled from the
lungs as dead, or devitalized air.

The effete gases thrown off from the lungs are fifty times heavier than
atmosphere, consequently they are naturally attracted toward the earth's
carboniferous plant life. Botanists tell us that under the influence of sun-
light, plants absorb carbon from the air, and excrete oxygen; hence it is
readily seen that the vegetable kingdom has a great influence on the purifica-
tion of the atmosphere.

Nature's methods are perfect. In her economy she uses the retrograding
elements to generate or liberate energy which is ascending. The disintegrat-
ing elements from one kingdom become the food supply for another, and all
kingdoms are united by that subtle force, electro-chemic energy. Nothing is
lost. Matter is reduced to energy, and energy is condensed into matter —
neither can be absolutely destroyed. The changes which we witness are
those of reduction, change of form. By a close study of^he'laws of resistance
to passing energy we shall ultimately learn the secret of how ceHs are formed
from condensing energy.

Solar energy mingling with gaseous elements imparts some of ks electric
life to them, causing motion and circulation.

Too much stress can not be placed upon the fact that it is the life-giving

14

influence of the electrical sunlight, which imparts to growing vegetation its
stored electric energy, and to the atmosphere the qualities which make its
elements play so important a part in the maintenance of life.

Chas. Dennison, A.M., M.D., of Colorado, in his valuable paper on "Devi-
talized Air Toxaemia, a Prime Cause of Tuberculosis," says: "The life of the
air consists, to a greater extent than has been heretofore recognized, in the
molecular mobility of its atoms caused by the sun's influence. The diffus-
ibility of the air, its easy and ceaseless motion, due to changes of tempera-
ture in different strata, are forces of molecular activity which, under the in-
fluence of some electrical or other force yet to be fully understood, probably
impart the life-giving principle to the atmosphere. The restraint of this
molecular motion, and consequent limitation of vitality, are in direct propor-
tion to the deficiency of ventilation. Herein, I conceive, lies the great mis-
take of our civilization, i. e., in relation to our mode of living. Here is to be
seen the need of education, that this cause of disease may be realized."

Further he says: "There may be a new principle or ingredient yet to be
discovered in the air, which governs the arrangement either of its atoms or
molecules, and thus make it respirable. Indeed, we seem to be confronted
with the most important inquiry, the answer to which would be of the most
inestimable value, namely, what is the relation of atmospheric electricity to
the respirability of air? In other words, how does the breathing of air
through its oxygen be only partially consumed, make it unfit for again sus-
taining life till it is re-electrified or re-vitalized? Or again what, if any, is
the inhibitive state of oxygen in the air, especially in once-used air, which
renders it non-absorbable or its use nugatory in sustaining life."

I think it is not presumptuous to say that the preceding analysis to a great
extent answers these questions. I repeat with Dr. Dennison, that the lack
of proper ventilation and open-air life is the bane of civilization. If the
human lungs had plenty of moving air, without draught, and the human
race had sufficient good food, with less worry and waste of energy in gain-
ing the necessities of life, there would be such a decrease in the death-rate
from consumption or tuberculosis, that within a period of a few years the
disease would scarcely be known.

We must remember the great amount of carboniferous, decaying matter
thrown off from the lungs every twenty-four hours. If, for any reason, the
lungs are not cleared of this vitiated animal matter, what is the result?
They become clogged, and proper electrification of the blood cannot take
place. The mass becomes a hot-bed for the generation of tubercular bacilli
which appear by the million, as a result, and not as a cause of this scourge
of the human race.

Too much stress can not be laid on the subject of ventilation. In this age
all buildings are so constructed as to nearly exclude air; as a consequence

15

■we are fast developing into a race of consumptive and nervous wrecks
Every infant born must fight its way in life against the fearful odds of
vitiated and non-electrified air; under those conditions thousands of them
perish before they even taste the first fruits of happy childhood with its
open-air life.

Go into the crowded theaters and churches, you will find them a hot-bed
of disease and corruption, all on account of a lack of air. People crowd
together, breathing over and over again the devitalized air — and then they
wonder why they feel so stupid, why they take cold so easily. If the doctors
and ministers of the world would only teach the people the value of fresh
air, they would indeed be teaching the laws of life.

Everywhere we can see the great necessity of proper electrification of the
blood, and its influence upon the health and harmony of the individual. It
is obvious that the system will not receive its proper supply of energy, and
the whole organism will suffer in consequence, if the atmosphere is poor or
devitalized.

For example, let us take a case of carbon-monoxide poisoning. Here we
have carbon instead of oxygen passing into the lungs, and what action
should we expect? The carbon of the gas meets the carbon and hydrogen
excreted by the lungs; now these molecules are repellant, or dia-magnetic to
each other, consequently molecular rearrangement can not occur and no
electro-chemic energy results. Gradually the carbon ceases to be excreted
by the lungs, venous blood remains unchanged and passes into the arteries,
making a few circuits, and is found as such when the post-mortem is made
by the coroner. In his mistaken diagnosis, he believes that the carbon has
passed from the carbon mon-oxide gas by osmosis and has formed a union
with hemoglobin, but the real action which takes place is the union between
unexcreted carbon of venous blood and hemoglobin. The reason for this
union is because the blood fails to gain its supply of electric energy from the
atmosphere; the moment this supply ceases there is nothing to prevent the
elements having attraction for each other within the blood stream from
uniting.

The lungs are the all-important center of physical life; their motion is
synchronous with that of the brain. "Man does not live by bread alone,"
he may exist for weeks without food, for a less time without fluid, but if he
is deprived of air and of that necessary energy which he gains from breath-
ing it, he dies within a very few moments.

Notice the horse, as he draws a heavy load, his dilated nostrils show his
struggle for breath. Give him a few moments to catch his wind, and he
lifts the load to the brow of the hill. Observe the athlete, when performing
feats of strength, see how he pauses to renew his vital energy by deep-drawn
breaths; watch his chest rise and fall, as the air rushes to and from the

16

heated surface of the lungs. Why does be do this? His weight is nearly
the same, bis slomach may be well supplied with food, yet something is
needed to enable him to continue his activity — it is electro-chemic energy
that he gains from breathing atmosphere, which creates the breath of life.

At all times and under all conditions, there is a manifest necessity for the
revitalization of the blood. Every cell with its nerve connection, every
organ with its cylindrical, insulated tubes, indicates to the thinking mind
that this great work of renewal is that of an electro-chemic process. What
the sun is to the earth in the renewal of atmospheric life, the lungs are to
the blood in the renewal of its life.

The organs that propel the blood stream never sleep. Night and day the
lungs, heart and nervous system labor in perfect accord to keep the vital
energy at a proper " potential " or standard which we know as health Even
in sleep this work goes on. Other organs may rest, but these maintain an
incessant activity. While the brain reposes the system has time to accumu-
late energy whose supply is continually drawn upon during activity. If
our rest be perfect we awaken with bouyant spirits and with nerves tingling
with a charge of new life; but if our sleep be broken, if we toss to and fro,
the energy does not accumulate and we arise exhausted; we are using our
forces faster than the great batteries can supply them. We can not digest
our food for lack of energy; we have no resistance to the opposing forces
about us, and are thus in a condition for the ravages of disease.

In this age we are still taught that disease is an entity — a microbe, a
devil ; something that must be driven out by some powerful antiseptic, or
killed by poisonous serum.

All this is contrary to nature. It can bring nothing but disappointment
to the physician and sorrow to the suffering millions of earth. In the name
of progress I must emphasize the fact that the primary cause of all disease is
a lack of life, a lowering potentiality of the normal electro-chemic forces of
the human system.

OLIVE-OIL IN THE TREATMENT OF HEM ATOM ATA.

Dr. Gamescasse (Rev. de Therap.) advises the application of olive-oil in all
cases of contusion and hematomata. No rubbing in is necessary — it is
indeed painful and therefore to be avoided — but the oil is simply sprinkled
on or applied on lint. If the skin is broken, a previous cleansing with
some antiseptic is advisable. The mode of action of the remedy is not
olear, but the rapidity and effectiveness of its operation are said be re-
markable. A black eye thus treated disappeared so quickly and completely
that the victim was inclined to complain on the ground that he had no
visible injury to show to the police. — Mass. Med. Journal.

J A.

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