< Strange Forces in Nature (continued from page 3-97) >
colorless sulphurous acid gas, the beautiful experiment of Prof. Tyndall; at first, the tube remains perfectly transparent, but after a time the power of the vibratory motion of the intense beam of light makes itself known by shaking assunder the compound atoms of the gas. The atoms of oxygen and sulphur part company, the oxygen remains invisible as a transparent gas, but the atoms of sulphur, a solid, begin to gravitate toward each other, collecting into molecules; these becoming large enough to act on the finer rays of light, a faint blue sky color makes it appearance within the transparent tube. Presently the color deepens, as the process of agglomeration of the particles goes on, and becomes deeply blue; then, the process continuing, a whitish tint becomes mingled with the blue; it increases in depth of color, preponderates over the blue, which, ultimately settling on the sides of the glass, reveals to powerful microscopes twilight points of matter.
How excessively minute must have been the particles of the faint blue haze. Utterly beyond the vision singly of the best instrument, even after condensing into the deeply blue, or even into the whitish vapor. Thus atoms, molecules, and organic cells may exist in the transparent air, far beyond the vision of man, aided by all the powers of his transcendent art.
The beginning of the organic cell, which is the start of all vegetable and animal structures, is a totally invisible point of matter, or point of force I would prefer to call it, endowed with remarkable powers. It is not only able to draw assunder the compound atoms of the matter, or pabulum, with which it la surrounded, but it possesses the power of selecting, out of these divided molecules, such atoms only as it requires both of in kind and quantity, uniting them together into new combinations, which thus form the little masses of matter which, in the microscope we recognize as the organic cell. The cell, in its simplest existence, is a mere gelatinous mass, composed of a certain and large number of atoms of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen, with a very few atoms of sulphur and phosphorous; it has no particular form, but, if left entirely free, would generally assume the spheroidal; it has no envelope, but is endowed with a capability of contraction, and has been called sarcode or protoplasm. The atoms are held together by unstable chemical affinities, and thus are, like a tall tower on a very narrow base, liable at all times to fall into smaller masses of component materials; but the power that selected, and lifted the atoms into their places, preserves the integrity of the structure, and is called vitality, or cell force.
Cells can be thoroughly dried, and so remain for an indefinite time, in some cases, without losing their vitality, as in the grains of mummy wheat and peas and certain infusoria. Also, certain germs of cells may be exposed to a degree of heat above boiling water, and still survive; or, in numerous cases, may be frozen with impunity. If a cell be exposed to the action of carbolic acid or heat, the albuminous portion of its structure is coagulated, and thus the relations of attraction between the cell force and cell contents are destroyed; the cell, io such case, is said to be killed. Will it be proper to assume that the cell force has been transformed into light, beat, electricity, or some other force, when no proof has ever been given of such being the case? Has it been destroyed? No force is ever destroyed, as is now well known.
If, then, the cell force is not destroyed, nor changed into the physical or chemical forces, it must still remain as a cell force; hence, I suppose that, when the cells of the food are paused into the stomach, and dissolved by the pepsin and gastric juice, the cell forces survive, and in a subdivided state reappear in the chyle corpuscles of the central lacteals.
Also, when animal matter putrifies, the cell forces reappear perhaps as vibrios and bacteria; and when vegetable matter decays in the soil, the cell forces may remain with the humus, and constitute an important element of its nutritive value.
Neither chemistry nor physics detect any difference between a living and a dead cell; nevertheless, the cell has lost that essential element which gave it its distinguishing characteristics. Cell force cannot be the simple resultant of the molecular forces of the constituent atoms of the cell, like the crystallic force in the crystal, because if it were, then it would remain with its components, and would be present necessarily as long as its molecules constituted the cell structure, — in other words, could not be killed.
Cell force increases or grows by the conjoined action of the sun’s rays, carbonic acid, ammonia, and water; hence it must have a close relation with the solar and chemical forces. Once formed, however, it appears to have become individualized, and perhaps independent, as regards its existence, to a great degree if not entirely, of the molecules constituting the material stricture of its cell.
It has been, and still is, a question of great interest with scientists, whether the cell force can be generated spontaneously by the above forces, or whether a previously existing cell force, or germ of a cell, is not in every instance required. It is agreed on by all that, if there be spontaneous action, it can only result in rudimental cells, or cells of the lowest order of existence.
In certain cases two living cell forces coalesce, forming a single cell of greater power, or possessing capabilities which do not exist in either of the original cells; conversely, an individual cell force is capable of sub-division, perhaps, indefinitely. An interesting instance of subdivision is to be found in the moner, which lives at the bottom of seas; in its fullest development a mere globular mass of sarcode, or protoplasm, or cell of the lowest order. It continues to grow in size up to a certain point, and then simultaneously divides its entire substance, except a thin outer membrane, into from thirty to fifty cells; these burst open the envelope, and separate from each other, becoming individualities, each one precisely alike the original cell, and goes through the same history. This organism, it might be said, never dies.
If cell forces, once formed, have an indefinite existence until absorbed or assimilated by the living cells of vegetables or animals, the atmosphere must be largely permeated by these germs or invisible cells; we draw in large numbers in the act of breathing, which may greatly assist oxygen in giving strength and lite-sustaining power. It would follow, also, that infectious and contagious diseases would be breathed as invisible cell germs, which might develop in the blood, until arriving at microscopic vision, as has been asserted by Dr. Salisbury and others.
There exists a peculiar force called by physiologists the formative force, or force of form, which gives the form to all organic structures. It is certainly a remarkable force; for from living germs, precisely alike to all appearances, there ultimately grow up or develop all vegetable and animal forms.
Philosophically, we would have to regard all forms of the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms as being the complex resultants of the various component forces of the structures. But resultants cannot precede components; hence, it would follow that the original germ contained all the components of the ultimate form, — that is, that every cell force of the completed structure had its representation in the germ from which all were derived, as believed by some physiologists. It is impossible to associate forces of the same nature without producing resultants; each representative of a cell in the germ must be a force, then the association of all the cell representatives must have an ultimate resultant which must have the embryo form of the completed structure.
In the mineral kingdom, the simplest form is the symmetrical crystal, a resultant of the molecular forces of the constituent molecules; compound forms, resulting from compound resultants, are seen in the arborescent shapes assumed by the individual crystals of ice on the windows in frosty weather, and the beautiful and still more complex geometrical forms of snow-flakes. Also, in the stony accretions resembling flowers, bunches of grapes, snow-balls, and other shapes on the walls of caves.
The organic world has forms belonging to a higher geometry as has been said, than of the mineral kingdom. Passing from the simple spheroidal cell to the higher and far more complex forms of vegetable and animal life, until the human form is reached, which is the perfection of form.
In all nature, animate and inanimate, there is a general tendency to assume shapes or symmetrical forms. Forms may exist wherever there is matter: even the attenuated vapors of Tyndall's experiments are said, at times, to assume beautiful forma of exquisite shapes and symmetry. Above the poles of magnets, lines of force, constituting beautiful forms of curves, become visible to the eye when attractive matter, such an fine particles of iron nickel, are sifted over them; forms of matter, invisible to the eye, may then exist, of which our vision can take no cognizance.
Every transparent block of ice is filled with forms of icy flowers, existing invisible to the eye until the powerful beam of electric light, assisted by optical contrivances, brings them into view. Nature revels in forms and colors; with unsparing hand she scatters them in the earth, in the waters, and in the fathomless air; the solid earth is a mass of infinitely varied crystalline forms, and its surface is enameled with gorgeously colored flowers.
The influence of color should not be overlooked by the physician; nature has not neglected this hygienic and psychological power, but has spread the softest green carpet for him to walk over, and painted it with the most beautifully tinted flowers, to cheer up his mind and soothe his vision. Above him an azure mantle spreads itself over the expanse of the heavens, lighted up by the golden orb of day, whilst a robe of darker blue, spangled over with twinkling stars, makes night beautiful; thus, to quiet his earthly passions, and to harmonize his feelings with the pure and sublime influences above and around him, the fevered patient should be soothed with the neutral tints of his chamber, and the desponding enlivened by bright and varied colors; inflammatory diseases and excited nerves, by the softest tints of blue and green, whilst deficiencies of animal heat and lethargic conditions of the system would be warmed and excited to beuer action by the bright tints of red.
Strange Forces in Nature
A remarkably strange force, which has recently received the name of Psychic Force, is now exciting great attention and discussion. It derives its name from its intimate connection with the mind or intelligence, and is now being investigated by some of the ablest scientists of Europe.
Of all the forces which act on matter, this is the most won <... continues on page 3-99 >
Editor's notes
- ↑ Strange Forces in Nature by Rains, George W., Spiritual Scientist, v. 1, No. 19, January 14, 1875, pp. 220-21
Sources
Spiritual Scientist, v. 1, No. 19, January 14, 1875, pp. 220-21