, 1898-09-10
OLD AGE COMES
~ DEPENDS NOT UPON YEARS, GUT
UPON VITAL FORCE.

~ DEPENDS NOT UPON YEARS, eur
UPON VITAL FORCE.
- aFsaesse E.eoy - Long Life II self
I~nAulgsnss Why People u Adv.aeed
Ass shosld Eat spartrgiy SD Drink
Mses freely.
Bone men are 30 years younger phys
ically and mentally than others are at
tbs anne age. 1t is self evident that old
age does not begin at any set time, so
1AT ~ the divisions Of time divide the
periods Of life, but that it has to do
with that subtle agent known as the
vital force, an acquaintance with which
enables the analytical mind to become
proficient in %prognosis by weighing in
the balance the vitality on the one side
with the pathology On the other.
The indication Of old age may be no.
tioed by ocular inspection. The figure
stoops, the walk is less elastic, the
sounded figure gives place to the spare
habit Of body, the wrinkle Of time
mounts the cheek, while the frost of
many winters mantles the brow. The
typical healthy person who attains old
age il spare Of body, and old age en-
phasizes this fact by causing q paucity
Of adipose tissue. So the wrinkle Of
time, after all, is kindly in nature.
Physiologically we notice that a
diminution of the physical energy is &C.
Icompanied by q corresponding diminu-
ton Of the power to eliminate waste
material from the body. Elasticity and
strength give place to hardness and
brittleness of nearly all the tissues Of
the tody. The general health may be
good, because there is a harmonious
balance between the action of the nerv-
Gus system and the circulatory system.
However, the former is less responsive
to external stimulation, and the latter
is less vigorous in old age. The vital
processes conducted by the circulation,
respiration and metabolic changes in
the tissues are less active. There are
diminished a~daptability Of the whole
system to changes in the environment
and less ability to meet the require
meuts Of emergencies, such as sudden
U04UWuO8 u Au6CuAhI huu lACAtdA 6bIulu.
The senile conditions and diseases are
numerous and obvious-in the first
place, weakened digestion and assimila-
tion. The weakened vigor of the circula-
ton and glandular system necessarily
weakens the power of eliminating
the excrementitious substances, which
gives rise to pernicious nutrition, and
that in turn is the cause Of the tendency
to develop malignant or benign growths
in different parts of the body in old age.
The strong tendency to overeat and
underdrink, together with the natural
decline Of functional power, gives rise
70 . condition Of lithemia, which is the
primo cause Of the majority of deaths
In old age. In the healthy state that
great glandular furnace and chemical
laboratory, the liver, is capable Of trans
forming Al excess Of heterogeneous matter.
which may result from metabolisnn Of
tissue or exist in the food consumed,
into the highly soluble excrementitious
substance known as urea. This excre-
ment is eliminated from the blood
mainly BY the kidneys and to a much
less extent by the skin.
Now, in old age, with the functional
power and natural vitality ON the wane,
together with the strong tendency to
overlap this function Of the liver, we
find this waste is not converted into
urea, but into uric or lithic acid, a COM
paratively insoluble excrementitious and
toxic substance, which II it appears in
the blood in sufficient quantity and is
long enough continued in circulation
through the urinary tubules sets up IT.
ritation and inflammation, which inev-
itably impair the function Of the renal
spithelium, and we find this poisonous
substance is not eliminated from the
system, but 'accumulates in the blood.
This explains why old people are
almost universally troubled with disease
Of tho liver, kidneys, bladder and pros
tate gland. The unstable circulation,
aaheromatous changes and brittleness
Of the walls Of tho blood vessels, with
the tendency to overtax the digestive
apparatus, are the cause Of many oldpeo-
pie going to that bourn from which
NO traveller RETURNS by the apoplectic
rQutaL
Hereditary diseases naturally mani.
fese themselves when the vitality is be.
low . certain level, 80 we are not sur
peised to find certain dyscrasic and
latent tendencies manifesting them.
selves ct this period of life, when the
natural vitality ia waning. The diseases
most frequently found to be the III
o6 dissolution among the aged are pneu-
monia, diseases Of the liver and urinary
oegans, consumption. cancer, apoplexy
and sansrene.
The enemy to longevity, the author
continues, 10 self indulgence. People
who have reached nm advanced age may
peolong their lives and greatly add to
the comfort Of their declining years by
diminiahing the quantity Of food in
gssted, thereby avoiding too large .
residue Of waste matter either In the
Intestinal canal or in the form OF excre-
mentitious matter in the blood.-Jour.
nal az American Medical Association.
wsll PED Rishters.
SAYS the London Chronicle: "Ad-
misai Dswey's interruption Of the bat
10 a Manila bay to give his crews the
opportunity o6 breaking their fast re
calls our own 'glosious lst Of June,
when Earl Howe, before be gave the
lsupch such . hammerinS Oh Ushant
hove 10 Tor an hour before attacking to
permit II his men fortifying themselves
Ii ths coming tight witha good meal
q ranss which caused much conjecture
- - minds Of the astonished French.