Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-20
OLD AGE.
IT'S STEALTHY APPROACH AND
NOISELESS TREAD.
Cause, and How 1t May
be Retarded.

Cause, ana HOW 1t May
be Retarded.
The principal characteristics of old age,
as demonstrated by anatomical research,
are deposition of fibrinous, gelatinous and
earthly material in the system. Every or
gan of the body, during old age, is especi-
ally prone to ossific deposits. The earthly
deposits have been found to consist pri-
marily of phosphates and carbonates of
lines combined with other calcareous salts.
According to the researches of DIR. Will
Jams, of England, man begins in gelatin
GUS and ends in an osseous or bony condi-
ton. From the cradle to the grave gradual
process of ossification is undoubtedly pres
ent, but after passing middle age the ossiic
tendency becomes more markedly devel-
oped, until it finally ushers in senile de-
crepitude. These earthly deposits during
old age materially interfere with the due
performance of function by the organs
hence we find imperfect circulation in the
aged: the heart gradually becomes ossified,
the larger blood vessels blocked up with
calcareous matter, and nutrition hindered.
A distinguished Psychologist says: If
repair was always equal to waste, life
would only terminate by accident" And
it is the opinion OF eminent scientists that
the majority f all VII pass s. years suffer
more or less from these ossific deposits.
Therefore, bearing these facts in mind, we
plainly see that the real change which pro-
duces old age is nothing more or less than
q slow hut stea ly ccumul al n calcs-
t..xw-& l.. IL mn
idea that old age is brought about simply,
or at all, by decline of the vital principle
has long since been discarded by scientists,
and the true cause found to be that of
gradual disintegration of the tissues because
of the inadequate supply of blood Follow
ing out the ideas of DR.. Williams, this pro-
cess is believed to be of a chemical nature.
and the causes being nothing more or less
than ossific deposits, let us for moment
look for the causes and influences leading
to the condition we have described.
THE TWO PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF OLD AGE
Are, first, fibrinous and gelatinous sub.
stances; and second, calcareous deposits.
According to recent researches of Delaney
Eyins, the origin of the first may undoubt-
edly be traced to the destruction of atmos-
pheric oxygen, and demonstrable by the
following argument:
III Tic dlI We Dtedtlle the Tcldl1Ne DrO-
portion of oxygen to nitrogen is % to 10;
and. although oxygen is in far smaller
bulk, yet it is the most active element.
Now, oxygen has an affinity for every other
element except fiuorine, and as oxygen
plays by far the most important part in
these chemical changes constantly at work
in the economy, life itself is but a constant
waste by oxidation and PREPARATION by food.
In the blood exists albumen and fibrin.
themselves resolved into component parts,
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sui
phur and PHOSPHORUS. Fibrin. it is
claimed, contains one and five-tenths more
oxygen than albumen. Now, oxygen con-
verts albumen into fibrin, fibrin itself be-
ing but an oxide of albumen. Although
Wpouestionably fibrin nourishes the organs
of our body, yet it becomes at times, as we
reach the cool and shady walks in the
evening of life, accumulated IN redundant
quantity, blockading the streams of life as
doth the chilling winds of winter the
mountain riyulets. There is always a
struggle going on in our bodies between ac-
emulation and elimination, and thus it is
that the fibrinous and gelatinous accumu-
lations of old age are chiefly traceabe to
chemical action of atmospheric oxygen.
The calcareous deposits next claim our
attention, being proved by anatomical in
yestigation to be peculiarly characteristic
of old age. In the human body water
forms 20 per cent of its aggregate weight;
in fact, there is not single tissue but con-
tains water es necessary ingredient
Now, water holds certain salts in solution,
which become more or less deposited, not
withstanding the large proportion elimin-
ated through the secretions, and it is but a
question of time before these minute parti-
cles deposited by the blood have marked
effect in causing the stiffness and aridity of
advanced life. The reason why in early
life the deposit of earthly matter or salts is
so infnitesimal is simply because they have
not had time to accumulate. Besides pro-
viding the requisite elements of nutrition,
food contains calcareous salts, which being
deposited in the arteries veins and capil-
laries become the proximate cause of ossi-
fication and old age.
HOW 20 RETARD THESE CHANGES.
Having now traced the primary exist
ence of calcareous matter to food itself. it is
consequently subject of no small moment
to ascertain the various dietetic articles
containing these salts. As matter of fact
everything we eat does contain them to a
greater or less degree. The cereals are
found most rich in them so bread ITSELF
the so-called staff of life, except in great
moderation, most assuredly favors the de-
position OF these salts in the system. The
more heterogeneous our food, the greater it's
percentage of calcareous matter hence a
diet composed principally of fruit, from its
lack of nitrogen, is best adapted for pre-
venting or suspending ossifcation
Moderation in eating ever must be of
great value us an agent for retarding the
advent of senile decay. Large eaters more
rapidly bring on ossific deposits by taking
in more than is utilized or excreted,
naturally resulting in blockading the YES
sells and destroying their normal functions.
According to the best authority | have
been able to consult, the following seem to
be the best articles of food. as containing
the least earthly salts: Fruit, fish, poultry,
flesh of young mutton and beef, because,
as before stated, of their being less nitro
genous. Fluids, as part of the diet, are of
special import. All well and spring water
contains considerable of the earthly salts,
and should therefore be avoided, and els
tern water used in its stead, because water
is the most universal solvent known.
Therefore, when taken into the system
clear of foreign matter. it is to that extent
the better prepared to dissolve and take up
those earthly salts, and convey them out of
the system. The ADDITION of Is or 20 drops
of dilute phosphoric acid to the glass of
water, and drank three times day, will
add to the solubility of these earthly salts.
MECHANTCAL AND INVENTION