Telegram-herald., 1888-01-08
SECOND CHILDHOOD
HOW TO CARE FoR AGED peRso Ne
The First Physical Chsaxes Seties@sis ss
the Years Glide swiftly oy-A rhyst
esxa's Ids4s Conserving Dief sna
NedieiEs-sieep-- Tenn nperssare-

2
old age second chil1AoldH fle Develop
ment sesn - ckilSheod daring TIE nrst ave
Years Is sTevegse1, thoush mere gradually ia
thoss wks I've 70 6s over 80 sears old
Among rae Haost noticeable chsnses Is vast
ing. first, OF the least es-estiAl part Of the
body-fst "A thai disappears ssrivsiea
appearance Of the aged sublecs IS ths result,
the face baooneS deeply ~rlnkled. tas Hands
boBy and the limbs shr0nken Then ths mus
cuiSr tissue Is slowly absorbed, and the
process Is accompanied by loss Of strcEgth.
which however. N less BOtloeabls by re2ssn
Of the previous reduction in weight Oc-
easionzliy se note in very aged people
that the powers of the mental faculties are
retained IN a wonderful degree bat IN the
ms)origs Of cases they are naors or less inl-
paired, and the subjects become capricioas,
exactlng, and in fact, childish. The feeble
ness Of mental power Is due 10 wasting Of tae
brain As has been said, tie memory goes
first, especially the recollection OF resent
events. Far OF reInembrances Of early days,
and those OF middle life, come up almost as
freshly as ever; but what happened yester-
day, or even to-day, is EASILY forgotten The
power TO reason closely, Ca 80 give attention
very long 70 one subj.ct next gives WAY. We
need not dwell on the dimnesS Of sight and
dullness Of hearing which are among the
usual. but not universal infrmities OF age.
In all these particulars there is very great
variety in individuals. Some of those who
live the longest retain till the last more of
their original mental capacity, with good
sight, hearing and muscular strength, than
those whose life energy h exkauSted not
much after the end OF four score years
PowERs OF DIGESTION
The care OF the aged is a subject which
must concern all, although 10 some Of US the
time when Wa shall need the application Of
correct management may seem aiar OF. IL
Is easy 10 reason out the most imperative
needs. We know that the powers Of diges-
ton must necessarily be weaker at 20 than in
early hfe; hence the importance OF a correct
dictetic regimen. Food must be taken
ottener ana less in amount at each feeding.
After a person has rescaed tie age just
stated, he should take food four times day
until he is 80 years old; then, fer the next
ten years that he lives, Eve meals each day
are none too many, and his food should be
simple and easily digcsted There are very
few people near the age OF 50 who have
many sound teeth; therefore, during the
years which follow their less, unless false
can be worn, their diet should be liquid, and
made up largely Of milk. Beef tea, and
fluid extracts OF beef, properly prepared, are
of great assistance in feeding the aged
After three score years and ten have been
reached, earlier il it appears necessary, it
viii be well to commence the use OF Stimu-
lants. Il cannot be denied that BY the judi
cious administration of alcohol TO the aged
better health and longer life are promoted.
or course it must be wisely given, or, instead
Of a benefit, it viii prove an injury. The
question naturally arises what quantity may
be safely allowed and only good follow its
usel No rule applicable alike in all cases
can be given: each case must be studied, and
tie estimate made on individual needs In a
general way. il may be said that when de-
cline in the vital powers, in consequence Of
old age, is reached, be il at the age of So, 20,
or later, use of stinIuiants may properly COM
mence Ii the subject has been habituated
TO the use of alcoholic drinks. then the
quantity allowed him may be greater.
but If he has lived temperate life, q
teaspoonful of whisky or brandy, or q
dessertspoonful of the stronger wines,
sherry, etc, may he properly given before
his meals. Alcohol will improve his appe-
tite, stimulate digestion and quicken circula-
| tion. As he declines in lifo and his strength
falls the quantity viii need to be increased
somewhat. The conservative reader will
kindly understand us, that we advise alcohol
+ in old age rs an accessory food Not only
} would we discourage its use for any other
: purpose unless IL be medicinal, but we most
emphaticaily condemn it, Give the old man
1 or woman regular doses Of teaspoonful or
more if needed, of whisky, or some stimu-
liant equally as strong, or the equivalent in
+ wines, and be or sac viii be better for il,
+ ana, we doubt not, viii live 30 a greater age.
/ MORE HOURS OF sLEEP.
The younger a child the more hours Of
/ sleep it needs. In declining life the number
/ Of hours in bed must be progressively in.
creased. Old people, as rule, are more OF
less wakeful; few among them sleep 50 many
hours continuously those who are younger
At least eight hours Of the twenty -four
should be passed in bed by every one who
has reached his Goth year. After 20, nine
hours should be passed in the same way
after 50, ten: and as 30 approaches at least
h-,f Of tho time should be spent IN bed or re
cliaiBg on a couch.
The next MEASURE Of treatment which We
shall recommend Tor the aged will doubles
be as strongly antagonized IS the StTHulsu'
treatment already advocated Here we vii
say it is by no means original with Us. bu'
has long been recognized and advised bs
sble physicians. II is that Of giving opiun
during declining life This agent NAV ~
used 70 promote sleep and under certain
conditions il can very properly Be admins
tered OCCASIONALLY during the DAYTIME
| If the aged subject is vakeful sns
. sufficient sleep u denied him. then feE
or fifteen drops Of lsudnum on retiriD:
viii be found q benefit ia nearly ali Gases
ard il its action Is good. there can Be no ex
cuse for Withholding IT, Rs<slersless an,
mental irrifabiaty. which tell sorsly On ~
/ aeesi NAV demand a. stated its use af othe
! times II xhouid ic reTnsni.afea thst opium
is not Simply qliet8nz. oF what some cail
'benamfing agent. il is = stiDaiaat. srs
with nearly ali very Old people it scfs vel
snd seens 81 help lift them over THE rosie'
places encountered in TIE way down tie 81
cine q life.
/ TIE natural temperature ~ the body
lowest IL the agsi Thev cannot fesr n
col3 wei. snd are easily made SO by j
Therefore. their clothing should be the warm
~, and. II yery old. tsey shopld not sleep j
, roo3a where tie tsTnfFTstufs .s beigT :
degs In arm. pieassnt peatfer tbey 81
b. In TIE ofen sir Il Is f3-sses thera, IN 81
IRE more thsy are ost - doors. Il tie cea5
tons are fsvorstle. tke better Fut r. ver
crld vesfbsr. taoee who srv far sdvznosd {
Iifs shosid - Comfortably hssasel A ks
been Sad. = veTy cd Terson riskx dest
from cst stroke ~ even vsitirz o1ft &
docrs = hen tkle feznrersf.irs sFspre.szaes zero
whes Potefo~s Are Ts~ne.
Js-ear Tgff-skesd - sa~f~snrrni~ writer
srs ths nf 80 rDie - know vsT1 fra
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