The silver star., 1899-03-16
SCIENTIFIC TOPICS
CURRENT NOTES or p,scov-
cry AND INVENTION.
Making Old Mon Youns-Method Of Ap-
plying Electricity Is Said to Have no.
msrkabie Resuits--wiId Beasts Tanned
By Tobacco.
To r.enrtheu Life.

DIR. Julius Althaus claims to have
discovered the philosophers stone of
the physiological world; in other
words. he says that by suitable electri-
cal treatment old men can be made
middle-aged. and mlddle-aged men can
recover much of the flexibility
strength. and appearance of youth.
His panacea is the galyanic current
which he applies to the brain in care
fuily regulated doses. He maintains
tnat week or two after the COM
mencement of such treatment the
energy OF the system is considerably
enhanced.
Inc old man takes fresh interest in
the anairs OF daily life and resumes
work with some amount of vigor. He
can take more exercise. he walks and
stands more erectly, and he has a
quicker digestion and healthier Sleep
lie is no longer nuisance to his
friends, as his peevishness and irrit-
apiiity have given place to an even
and contented temper. Not less grati-
Tying to those who are on the down
ward grade of life is DR.. Althaus'
statement In regard to the treatment
of the hair. He insists that the
growth of the hair is stimulated and
even when gray or white it resumes, to
greater or less extent, its former
brown or black color. In 100 cases
treated the results Of 40 per cent were
noted as very good" in another 30
per cent as fair" and in the last 30
per cent as Insignificant. DR.. Althaus
adds that in no case was the treatment
entirely useless, and the function
which was improved in every case was
that Of walking.
Dr. Athaus protests against the
treatment being abandoned without a
long and patient trial, for the longer
1t Is maintained the better are the
general results. He has come to the
conclusion that IL old people receive,
about the sixtieth or sxty-flfth year.
or indeed at any time when age has
begun decidedly to tell upon them,
proper and minutely carried out appli-
cations OF electricity to the brain,
either daily. or every other day, for
some time. they may keep the facul-
ties fairly well until the age Of so or
80. unless the case should be compli-
Gated with serious organic disease of
the nervous system, or other important
organs. such as paralysis. agitans, in
sular scelerosis. cancer. contracted
granular kidney. fatty degeneration of
the heart, etc.
The letting loose upon the public of
sensational stories as to the marvellous
virtues Of high tension currents, for in
stance. in the securing from the body,
and the casting out to the distance of
four or five feet of the microbes Of the
system, which has of late not been in
frequent. has created some incredullty
In the average mind as to the thera-
peutic value Of electrical treatment.
and possibly DIR. Althaus' theories may
come In for their share of this distrust.
At the same time. many OF the physi-
illogical effects OF the various kinds of
electric current are not yet known.
and some discoveries In electro-the
rapeutlc application are now being
made by leading scientific worker in
this country which are not in any de-
gree less remarkable than the develop
ment attributed to DIR. Althaus.