The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-06-17
Health and Old Age.

For the CITIZEN.
The deaths among the older citi-
zens Of Giles last winter and spring
have impressed me of the duty that
felt in saying Jew words for the
consideration of the masses and es-
pecially the senile race. Two or
three years ago / availed myself of
an extensive literature and studied
the subject very thoroughly and
from the best and most accurate
data. l found that man in a ordi
nary sense should live to consider
able longevity, say 125 to $50 years
of age. 1 proceed and leaving out
accidental deaths, as often times
fevers, sunstrokes, lightning strokes
and many preventable and avolda-
BILE causes of death. Yet in the
language of DR.. Wood of Philadel-
phia we are forced to recognize the
truth that man built equally
strong in ali his parts, lives out his
appointed days.
Excessive strength on our part is
a great danger to life, if not under
stood and sensibly governed ac-
cording to the true laws Of hygiene
The athlete perishes because his
O Ver-deVoloped muscular system,
perpetually straining, finally wears
out the heart and lungs which was
originally constructed for muscu-
lar apparatus of half the power
of that which.is artificially built up.
1t is fact that human age Is not
to be counted by years, but a1arge
proportion of mankind die early on
account of some local weakness
frequently built by neglect and ig-
norance. The tissues are older IN
many at forty than others at one
hundred
Many cases of neurathemia and
nerve exhaustion with a gradual
and often a sudden break down at
forty is simply premature old age
and must be treated as such. A
large proportion of mortality fire.
quently results from some feeble
organ being originally with a lon
gevity less than the rest of the or
ganism.
The man or woman who enjoys
fair health at seventy five years,
has probably been built with no
extraordinary plan, but has been
prudent and studied the weak
points and never recklessly over
worked them, but made every lick
count. The front part of and the
whole contour OF mans face, includ-
ing the ears, eyes, nose and the
bony fabric comprising the upper
breathing apparatus are a spongy
and hollow set of bones like birds
bones, light and airy, hence expo
sure to high winds and rapid eli
natal changes often throws great
strain upon the heart and he dies
suddenly or engenders catarrhs,
bronchitis, pneumonia and various
consecutive troubles that lead to
death. Emotional disturbances as
a receipt of good news sometimes
results in sudden death. NIelancholia
and suicides follow in the wake of
inroads on nerve force.
Medicines, advertised, and quack
nostTums captivate the weary trav-
eler on life's highway. There is
little doubt that as much harm re-
suit from neglect OF suitable RENE
dies as from oVer-drugging.
In medicine,as in everything else,
there is happy medium, to preserve
which is the secret Of success. Med
icines that perturbate and measures
that bring relief by inducing VIC
lent local action should be avoided,
at the same time incipient disorders
should be if possible arrested at
once.
Now in regard to details. Every
old or weakly person should go
over with. awise counsellor, his whole
method of living and habits. The
first question is in regard to food?
The lost teeth should be replaced
by artificial ones to facilitate chew
ing,while at the same time the food
should be thoroughly cooked and
soft, easily committed and diges-
table. 1t should not be very nitro
genious nor stimulating. Milk and
bread stuff cooked together should
be the main diet.
Excessive quantities of food
should be avoided. Gluttony per-
haps in eating causes more deaths
and suffering than all other irregu-
larities combined. Many old and
debilitated persons live longer and
more comfortably by the habitual
use of wine. Many eminent chem
list and physicians regard alcohol
and water in a definite mixture pref
cradle to wine. The Europeans use
wine. The habitual use of wine or
other stimulants for the young or
aged is very wrong and de-
But woe unto the ner-
vous and progressive largely fe-
males. The reports show the use of
a ton of choral daily, mostly a de-
structive poison, four tons of
opium annually and morphine no
telling how much. In old age the
heat making powers are exceeding
low and few old people are comfor-
table in a room the temperature of
which is below so degrees, and with
an abundance of warm but
light clothing. In many cases of
death the cause of death is due to
cold and the failure on the part Of
of the body to keep itself warm.
Every feeble old person should
wear q buck skin jacket when going
out. No kind of underwear has the
heat preserving power equal to it.
No one over 70 should be without
one. For constant wear it should be
perforated.
If the aged individual Is very
feshy and abdomen oppressive a
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