The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-31
HE CAN PROLONG LIFE
DIR. LOEB THINKS HE HAS SOLVED
THE MYSTERY OF DEATH.
His Experiments Explained at a Meet
ing OF the American PhysiO-
logical Society.

CHICAGO, Dec. 30.-Experiments which,
it is claimed, are beginning of the un-
ravelng of the mysteries of death were
made public by Prof. jacques Loeb at the
fourteenth annual meeting of the American
Physiological Society at the University of
Chicago tonight During the past sum-
mer the noted scientist has been continuing
his series of experiments with the eggs
of the lower marine animals, and especially
those of the sea urchin. and tonight in
paper entitled "On the Prolongation of
Life of Unfertilized Eggs of the Sea Ur-
chin by Potassium Cyanide" he told
group of the foremost psychologists in
America that by means of observation of
the effects of certain chemicals upon these
minute bits of protoplasm he was ready to
make a tentative definition of the hereto
fore unknown nature of death. Death, Prof
Loeb affirmed. was not a negative process,
a simple breaking down of tissues, as it
has been regarded up to this time, but an
active agent born with the birth of the
egg, and destined, if not checked, to gain
the upper hand of the life instinct and
bring about extinction. But, greater even
than the apparent discovery of this death
agent in all life substance, is Prof Loebs
announcement that he has been able to
check il in the eggs of the sea urchin. at
least, by means of chemical agents This,
it is claimed. means nothing less than that
on a minute scale the secret Of eternal life
is in the power of mankind
The experiments, Prof. Loeb says, were
simple. Unfertiized eggs of the sea urchin
were placed in a weak solution of potassium
cyanide and abandoned for several DAYS. In
ordinary conditions an unfertiliZed egg
died in a few hours. destroyed by the death
agents born with ii. At the end of several
days the eggs were again examined and
were found to be still capable of fertiliza-
tiOn and producing healthy animals
In explaining the results Professor Loeb
said: 'Mortiferous processes were due TO
the actions OF certain fermentS OF an un-
known nature. whose destructive tendency
was cOunteracted by the potassium salts
Several other papers of Importance We're
read during the meeting. Prof. d. j. Lingle.
of the University of Chicago. gave the re-
suits of his research into the effect OF
common salt upon the heart beat He al
frmed with great emphasis that contrary
TO the statement OF Prof. w. Nj. Howells
of Harvard. salt is the sole agent respon-
sibe for the rhythmic action of the heart
Prof. +. s. Lee, of Columbia University
made some interesting reports upon the
action OF alcohol upon muscles. BY eK-
perimentS upon the frog he demonStra ted
that a small amount of alcohol Increased
the working power OF muscle, enabled il TO
make more rapid contractions in a given
space Of time and delayed fatigue; that.
In short, liz made the muscle a much better
machine. In larger quantities. however
alcohol was detrimental in all respects
Among the well-known scientists who
read papers were Profs. u. L. Kemp, of
the University OF Illinois; \. II. Cushney,
of the University of Michigan; @. Lusk,
OF the University OF New York, and l.. Il.
Mendel, OF Yale.