Principles of General Physiology.

Abstract

According to the author, this book is not an applied physiology, but rather an abstract physiology, presenting facts not found except in original papers or monographs, many of them not biologic, the knowledge of which is of fundamental importance in understanding the mechanism of living protoplasm. The book is both general and elementary, in that it discusses the importance of the following phenomena in an elementary and general way, each of the subjects given comprising a chapter in the book: protoplasm; energetics; surface action; colloidal state; permeability of membranes and the properties of the surface of cells; osmotic pressure; electrolytes and their action; water, its properties and functions; catalysis and enzymes; oxidation and reduction; tonus; electrical changes in tissues; excitation and inhibition; contractile tissues; receptor organs and action of light. This type of subject-matter receives only scant treatment or passing reference in most books. The remaining chapters deal with subjects