Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23

shortening being roughly proportional to the
degree OF Indulgence Total abstinence and
habItGal temperance augment considerably the
chance Of death from Old age or natural decay,
without special pathological lesion subject,
however, to a few exceptions, it Is not advis-
able that man slXty-iiye or seventy years q
age. who has taken alcohol IN moderation all
has life. should suddenly become an abstainer.
Ola age cannot readily accommodate itself to
changes OF any kind. and 10 many old people q
little good wine with their meals Is = source Of
great comfort.
Sleep is closely connected with the auestion
OF diet; good sleeping" was a noticeable
feature IN the large majority OF DR. HUM
phrys cases Sound, refreshing sleep IA Of the
utmost consequence TO the health Of the BODY,
and no substitute can be found for Is as a re-
s1orer OF vital energy. Slcepessness 10. how
ever, often source % great trouble 90 elderly
people. and one which Is not easily relieyel
Narcotic RENE lies are generally mIschievoust
tnelr nrst erects may be pleasant. but the habit
OF depending upon them rapidly grows until
they become Indispensable When this stage
has been reached the sufferer Is in a far worse
plight than before. Ia al cases the endeayor
should be made 10 discover whether the sIeer-
iesshcss oe Que 10 any removable cause such
a. lhIlStstlon cold want Of exercise and the
IKE. In regard 10 sleeping in the dav time
there Is something to be said both for ana
against that practice. nap of forty vinkS'
IN the afternoon enables many aged peo,,lo IN
get through the rest OF the dAy in comfort
g.
prlyed OF that refreshment II fhev res, vr,lI
at night there eau he no objection 20 tho
afternoon nat. but II slceples-ness d, COM
planned of the latter should be di-continued
Tor time Most old people find that a re-
clhlnS posture. with the feet and legs raised.
Is better than the horizontal position for the
afternoon nap. Digestion proceeds with more
cas- than when the body Is recruitment
warmth lS very Important for the aged: cr-
posurt to chliis shou a he scruuulouSly avoided.
IL he To- Ia. n
lts attacks are very easily provoked. MANY ola
people suffer from moro ar less cough during
The winter months, and this symptom NAV re-
cur year after year, and be almost UNDECIDED
AT last. perhaps few minutes exposure TO n
cold wind increases the irritation in the lungs,
the cough becomes worse. and the difficulty ok
breathing Incr, asses uutll sui ocatou terminates
IA death. 10 oONIate such rI,k the skin should
be carefully protected bv warm flannel clothes
The outdoor Thermometer should DO noticed
aud ~luter garments should always be at hand.
In cold weather the lungs should be protected
by breathing through the nose as much as pos
slhie, aud 10y wearing a light wooden or sllken
muller over the mouth. Tho tempsrstura OF
the sitting aud BED rooms IL another poiut
which requires attention. Some old people
pride themselves On never requiring fire in
their bed rooms. IL is. however a risky prac-
lice 10 exchange a temperature OF 60 or 20 de-
grees for one 10 or 20 degrees lower As
general rule. Tor persons slKty-iye wears OF
age and upward. the temperature Of the bed
room should not be below GO degrees. and
when there are symptoms Of bronchitis it
should be raised from TO 10 degrees higher.
Careful cleansing of the skin is the last point
which needs 70 be mentioned IN an article like
the present. Attention 10 cleanliness is de-
cidedlA conducive to longevity. and we NAV
congratulate ourselves on the general improve
ment IN our habits IN tins respect. Frequent
washing with warm water Is very advantageous
Tor Old people, m whom the skin is only too apt
to become hard and dry. and the benefit viii
be increased II the abiutons DO succeeded by
friction with coarse flannel or linen gloves or
with a flesh brush. Every part OF the skin
should be thus washed and rubbed daily Tho
friction removes WORKOUT PARTICLES of the skin
and the exercise promotes warmth and excltes
Precipitation. Too much attention can hardly
be paid TO the state OF the skin; the comfort OF
the aged is greatly dependent upon the proper
discharge of lts fuuctIOns