Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-28

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Complies Rcndus and Society Reports.
With SO many minds at work OH the
same problems. in SO many different
centers, what may we not hope in the
end? Ond Of us spoke the thought OF
all-for there can be no special inter-
view for any one that day.
but soon there will be practical re-
sults?"
Undoubtedly"
"And man may hone for earthly i'm
mortality?"
"Ah, no! That is an Illusion" sighed
the savant. II do not pretend that.
For the moment all 1 have TO say Is
that. in theory, 1t seems possible to
prolong human existence indefinitely,
by arresting .senile decrepttude."
We listened breathlessly to the pro-
fessors exclamation OF his great dis
covcry.
up to very recently science had not
occupied itself at all with the phenome-
ma OF old age. Old age seemed natural.
Every one accepted it. Then. one day,
ii struck me that there might be inter-
esting matter for investigation in the
subject anu YOU will see that was not
deceived. 1t came TO me from this re-
IitGllol-liic btlltB IT. IuttCliOtl liNc ally
other. il we should die normally we
ought to die with joy. with the desire
10 die. When we have eaten we are no
longer hungry, after the labor OF the
day. we wish to sleep. How is 1t that
old men, with rare exceptions, cling to
life? Because, generally. we are forced
to go before the instinct to die is walk
encd in us. Death either takes us too
soon or else old age wcakcns lis to the
point OF not permitting this desire for
death to bloom in rs"
THAT seems n paradox"
Yet it is not" answered the profess
sor. and now let us ask what is this
importunate old age that arrests in us
the instinct of eternal rcpose? II is a
sinking down 1t is an inferi0rity
lack Of equilibrium among the various
clements Of our being. Our bodies are
composed of myriads OF cells. Well.
there are certain of these cells that I'm
sh by eating up the others And it is
ut our expense. y friShtful struggle!
The human body" continued the
professor. may he compared to u be-
seiged city. surrounded by enemies on
all sides. having its sentncls, its SOL
diers and its walls to resist attack. The
enemies are The microbes, and the SOL
Giers. continually on the alert. are the
animal cells which have called phago-
cytes, or micrOphagcs. Health is. in a
way, the constant victory of the micro-
phagcs over The microbes. The minute
VIC hccnMe- enfenhled nv my excess or
any unhygenic condition that moment
the soldier cells become also cnfeebled,
and q state Of disease Is started Ne
verthcless. they rush to the weak point
in immense numbers. try to overwhelm
the enemy. and the outward evidences
Of Not Ii ia
BATTLE OF THE CELLS
Now, all our organs are made up of
two sorts OF cells OF cellules. the noble
and the nlehian sort. The noble vari-
ETY. play a vital or secreting role in the
animal economy, while the other seems
to be there for no other purpose than
mere filling The plebians may be
compared, again-should our politics
permit tito the lower or ignorant
classes Of society, constantly in state
OF turmoil, having socialistic views,
wishing to invade the positions of the
higher cells, who really give its form
and character TO society. These higher
cells. in youth and health. hold their
own and keep the lower cells in their
place, but rs this condition of old age
comes on, aided by toxic causes. alco-
hol. tobacco and other stimulants the
nobler cells are depressed They have
not only to struggle against microbes
from without and the plebian cells
within. but against the willful poison
ings of 4 modern fast life.
"Ah, the struggle Is an unequal one!'
the savant went on regretfully. These
lower cells-the microphages. as have
called them-will group themselves
around higher cell, and then, little by
little. sucking at it. eat it up. devour
it. Then You have the organ weakened.
the nerve, the marrow or the brain. as
it may be. Then, as the operation goes