Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-09-12
WHAT rs LIFEP
The Late Prof. LeConte's Carefully
Scientific definition.

Philadelphia Times: Prof. Joseph
Te Conte contributes to Science an ar
t.ele under the above caption, which
considers this oft-recurring question
in the light Of the most recent discov-
cries in the effects OF temperature upon
living matter, He calls attention to
the Investigations which have resulted
In showing that dormant life persists
for years. perhaps centuries. in seeds,
and that in desiccated infusoria active
life may be revived under favorable
conditions, as well as to the SUPPOSE
e ton that very slow metabollic changes
go on through the state Of dorinancy-
life being feeble. but not extinct. The
same condition being thought TO be the
case in seeds of bacteria exposed to the
intense cold, Of $50 degrees to 200
degrees C. by Pictet or even to -250
degrees by Dewar.
But" he says, sit is now proven
that at this temperature chemical affin-
ity is destroyed and all chemical
changes arrested, and, therefore. the
chemical changes characteristic of life
-metabolism-also must cease. But
with the return of heat they revive.
Therefore. in this case life seems to
spring spontaneously from dead mat
ter Must we then revive the old doc
trine of spontaneous generation? II
not, we must change or greatly modify
our conceptions of life. From such ex-
periments it is evident that, although
life is, indeed. distinct form of en-
ergy, yet it's nearest alliance Is with
chemsm For as chemism is vom-
pletely destroyed by extreme cold and
again revived by heat, so life may be
completely arrested by cold and again
revived by heat--if the molecular
structure characteristic Of living pro-
toplasm whatever that may be- re-
mains unchanged"
This gives rise to the question, using
his words, What, then, is the neces-
sary condition of life-or, to put it
clearly, what is the difference between
dead protoplasm and living protop
lasm2 Evidently" he replies. lit is
not a difference in chemical compost
zion, for no change in this regard takes
place in the act of DEATH and con-
cludes that it must be difference In
molecular arrangement; that as the
necessary condition of chemical prop
tiLtS Is Certain tqulNditHl COilpooi-
ton, so the necessary condition of vital
properties is, in addition. a molecular
constitution, which, as Is the case with
chemical properties, may remain. even
though life, that is, active life, is abb
sent. So that according to him, life
may be destroyed and then again reviv-
cd, provided that a certain molecular
arrangement remains.
This he makes more clear in refer
ring to an article by Horace Brown, in
which that author says, "Spencer's
dennition Of life, viz, continuous ad-
jastmcnt of internal to external con-
dt'pus, must be revised, since it APP
plies only to active life and not to sus-
pended life" by stating that life in its
true sense must be active, activity be-
ing It's essential nature. but that there
is a necessary underlying condition,
"Flch may be called potential life,
H7ath being not merely an extinction
N. actual life but also the destruction
a. the necessary conditions of life; that
Is the Characteristic molecular struc-
i.ra Of prOtoplasm and that, therefore,
there are three conditions Of proto-
l7sm. "CD Living. condition in
which life is actual 90 potentially liy-
IaG IN which the necessary molecular
institution or vital constitution is
present. and (3l dead in which the
'..al constitution is also wanting,