The author presents something different from the ordinary textbook of biologic chemistry. In fact, it is an introduction to such works. The author appreciates the difficulties and modestly asks consideration for any shortcoming in the attainment of his ideals. These ideals are a philosophical unification and simplification of the chemical and physical processes of living matter. He prefers the term "living matter" to the term "cell." In the introduction he discusses protoplasm and closely related matter, building material and "heat material," electrolysis, energy, material of the cell nucleus, and the bioelements. The inorganic elements are classified as the essential and the accidental or relatively nonessential. Under the latter term many metals heretofore considered nonessential are deemed worthy of perhaps more consideration than some writers have accorded to them. Such metals include aluminum, copper, arsenic, lead, bromine, cobalt, manganese, silicon and others. The author gives full references to the original work