The Georgetown news., 1855-10-11
CIinnocterie DIsease.

1t is the opinion of many, that there are
periodic changes in the human system
that life is a scale of progression, grand
staircase of years, approaching the grand
climacteric step which is but short re-
move from the grave These periodic
changes, or critical periods are supposed to
occur once in seven years, and that in these
seven years the body undergoes a complete
change. The age Of siXty-three is consid-
cred as the grand climacteric, or most crit
ical period of life. We are not aware that
there is any record to show the foundation
for this belief, but it evidently had its Ori-
gin IN the empiricism of former days, when
medicaments were compounded from dead
mems skulls and other equally pleasant
sources.
The celebrated Dr. Darwin thinks that it
belongs to one Of the "Old wives fables"
and is akin to witchcraft and the other fool
cries of byegOne age.
We find an article in the Boston Medical
Journal, contributed by S. NJ Williams,
NJ. D., of Illinois, in which he endeavors to
show the fallacy of the idea. He says:
LAS it is the subject of individual eli
macteric years, in which many intelligent
men of the present Gay express their belief,
it shall be my object to expose the fallacy
of such belief This opinion has been
prevalent in connection with the subject of
vaccination. In the early days of inocula-
tion many people expressed their fears that
its efficacy would not extend beyond seven
years, or further than any climacteric year,
and that the human body did not then con-
sist of the same particles of matter as before.
True it is that great changes take place in
the system at the age of puberty, which oc-
ours at different periods in this climate; and
also at the change of life in women, which
also occurs at various periods, from 40 TO
55 That the COW pox acts with diminish
ed power as the subject advances in life, is
now acknowledged by all who have thor
oughly examined the subject, and the same
is also true in relation to the smallpox,
whoOping- cough and numerous other conta-
gious diseases; but ithas nothing to do with
the climacteric disease in question. 1t how
ever suggests the great Importance of fire.
quent re-vaccination."
In regard te the subject Of age, the wri-
ter; after enumerating the penalties for crime
dependent upon age. and citing exceptions
to the general rule, speaks of the attention
given to the subject by the ancients. In
this connection he says:
The subject of age seems particularly to
have attracted the attention of the ancients
who divided the life of man into several eli
macterics or periods. They supposed as |
have stated above, that the human body
underwent a radical change once in seven
years; that is, by the constant absorption
going on in the body, every part was com
| pletely taken up in seven years, and carried
off by the absorbents, and new deposition
of animal matter succeeded to supply the
loss or want which it then sustained Tul-
lius King of Rome, divided age into infan-
cy (which was under years.; childhood,
from to IA; yoath from IA to 2l; man
hood from 2l to 46; old age, from 46 to 20;
and from that time till death he called de-
crepitude. Many of the moderns have adop-
ted this division, though most of them vary
After the age of 60, in England and in some
parts of the United States, men are not
obliged to serve on juries. The age of 63
is the first grand cimacteric, and is suppos-
ed to be critical age. 1t has been ably
described by Sir Henry Halford, with its
Incidental climacteric disease, some account
of which may be found in Goods Study of
Medicine, and in Copland's Medical Die
tionary. This disease occurs between the
ages of so and IS, but more frequently
about the age of 63. After 65, men 1aealy
cease to procreate, but there are some ex-
ceptions. Seventy years is the scriptural
limit of life, though there are, especially of
late, many exceptions, and it is supposed
that the average of old age has increased.
Only one in $4,000, however, reaches 100
years; nor is the age of 81 (the second grand
climacteric) often attained.
Infancy, in the acceptation above laid
down, may comprehend childhood and youth,
though many think that youth extends to
the age of %. The period allowed to man
hood, undoubtedly, in this climate, is by
far too short. The mental faculties are Of
ten as bright at 70, the time at which de-
crepitude is said to take place, as at any
period of life; and, perhaps, the judgment is
not more matured and perfect at any period
provided man enjoys good health, than at
TO. After all that has been said upon the
subject, it seems that no other division OF
age Is necessary than that which is natural
ly suggested in the rise amp decline Of life"
The writer continues his subject by Civ
nigga statistical table, which show the num-
Der of deaths in the town of Deerfield, Mass,
commencing in 1887, and terminating in
1852, embracing each climacteric year, and
the years preceding and succeeding. From
the data thus obtained he arrives at the
conclusion, that tho climacteric years in
that town are less fatal than those years
Immediately preceding or succeeding them,
and that there is but little fear of special
danger from these supposed fatal years.