Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-04
PUTTING OFF OLD AGE.
Articles of Food That Tend to Retard
the Advent of Physical Decay.
New York Sun.

has received the attention. of thinkers
throughout all ages, and was consider
ed a reasonable subject for investiga-
ton by Beacon, as, in earlier days, it
had fascinated the alchemists and
Rosicrucians. ia these days of wider
and more accurate physiological in
gestigationS, the question of suspend
ing physical decay may properly be
considered as resting upon a substan-
tial basis of facts. The principles de-
rived from these are necessarily i'm
perfect as yet, but they are rational,
and are not easily controverted. AS
such they are receiving attention.
One of the clearest statements Of
the more obvious of the ideas involv-
ed ia the subject is presented in a
recent a-ticle by Or. S. w. Caldwell
IN the Memphis Medical Monthly. The
causes of old age, says the writer, are
disposition of fibrinous, gelatinous,
and earthly material in the system.
Every organ of the body during old
age is especially prone to ossific depos-
It's. The earthly deposits consist
primarily of phosphates and carbon
ates of lime, combined with other
calcareous salts. Man, Ia fact. begins
IN geIatinous and ends in an osseous
: or bony condition. From the cradle
TO the grave a gradual process of ossi-
hcatlon is present; but after middle
age the tendency becomes more mark
ed, and ends in senile decrephtude
These earthly deposits interfere with
the due performance of function oy
the organs, hence we find imperfect
circulation In the aged; the heart
gradually becomes ossifcd, the large
blood vessels are blocked up with cal
careous matter, and nutrition is
hindered. The majority of all who
pass 65 years suffer from these depos-
It's, the structure of every organ is
altered, and elasticity gives way to
senile rigldlty. The blockage of the
organs has then commenced, and
sooner or later a vital part bee ones
involved.
The idea is that old age is brought
about by a decline of the vital princi-
pie has long since been discarded by
scientists. The true cause is found to
be Gisintegration of the tissues because
of the inadequate supply of blood.
And this process is believed to be of
chemical nature and caused by the
above stated accumulations. The
origin of the deposits which, if we un-
derstand Dr.. Caldwell arighC, are pri-
marily of a fbrinous and gelatinous
nature, and proximateIy, caIcareou
is found In the destruction of atmos-
pheric oxygen in the body. Lie is a
process of constant waste through OK
idation and reparatiCn by food. Oxy-
gen converts albumen into fibrin a-ad
nourishes the organs, but In the even>
ing of life it Is accumulated more rap
idly than it can be eliminated, and
becomes obtrusive. Water holds the
salts in solution, but the blood finally
deposits them through lack Of the
eliminatIve power. Ia early life they
had no time to accumulate.
The doctor traces the origin of the
chemical changes and mechanical OBJ
structions to alimentary substances.
Food provides the requisite elements
of nutrition, but contains the Galcar~
eous salts, which, upon being deposit
ed IN the arteries, veins and capillar-
les, become the proximatc cause of
ossi6cation and old age. Lewis says,
In the Physiology of Common Life.
Moreover, in food we are constant
SuDSbducSS,
which produce variations in the nu-
triton of the parts. These different
accommodations exert their influence ia
the changes named age, and they cul
inmate in the final change named
death"
In considering the possibility of
suspendlng the advent of old age It is
consequently matter of the highest
moment to ascertain what foods con-
tain the smallest comparative Quan>
tity of those salts which tend to accu-
mulate IN the system and obstruct the
vital processes. The cereals are found
to be richest IN them; bread there
fore, the so called staff of life, except
when used in great moderation, favors
the deposition of these salts in the
system. The more heterogeneous our
food the greater in percentage of cal
careous matter. Hence} a diet com
posed principally of fruit, from it's
lack of nitrogen, is best adapted for
preventing or suspending ossiGcation.
Moderation in eating must ever be
OF great value in retarding the advent
Of senile decay. Large eaters more
rapidly bring on, osseous deposits by
taking IN more food than is utilized
or excreted, thus blocking the vessels
and impairing their functions. The
writer cites as what seem to be the
best articles of food for delaying the
deposits fruits, fish, poultry, flesh of
young mutton and beef. Fluids, as d
part of the diet, have a special impor-
lance. All we'll and spring water
contains considerable of these earthly
salts and should therefore be avoided
and replaced by cistern water. Water
clear of foreign matter is the better
prepared to dissolve the earthly salts
and convey them out Of the system.
The addition of Is or 30 drops of
dilute phosphoric acid to a glass of
water and drank three tunes day
will, IN DR.. Caldwell's opinion, add
to the solubility of these earthly salts,
and thus tend to suspend the advent
Of old age by assisting Ia the removal