The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-10
TO ARREST OLD AGE.
Prof. Metchnikon's Theory to Inden-
niteIy PrOlOng Human Life

ffOf. MetchntkOms TheOFy To Inde6
nitely Prolong Human Life.
PARIS,-June 9.-The announcement las
December Of startling discoveries by Prof
Metchnikoff. at the Pas,eur Institute, Of Q
series of iymphs designed 20 check decay in
the human body and indefinitely prolong
life, led to exaggerated reports which he
desires to correct. 1t is perfectly clear.
after conversation with the professor.
that he Is on the track Of most valuable
discoveries. and 1t is clear. at the same
time. that he Is a man of science and not
a charlatan.
Coming to the PasteJr Institute In 1883
from Odessa he has since devoted himself
to the study OF certain forms Of di.Sase
from decay. seeking remedies to cure one
oy arresting the others. He explains in
connection with the latter that exaggera-
tons have arisen and insists that the re-
searches are still in an initial stage.
In a communication to the French Acad-
envy OF Medicine published on June under
the caption. Sur HematoIysine Humane"
ne gives an Interesting account of the
beneficial effects Of the therapeutic
treatment OF leprosy. He was led to this
experiment by discussion at the Interna-
tional Congress Of LeproIogists at Berlin
tors strongly advocated the treatment Of
leprosy by the infusion Of serum. Dr..
brfeger. head Of the Koch Institute Hos
pital. opposed this. saying:
We have not the least knowledge OF
whether the serum enrIoses anti-toxines
or toxines''
Prof Metchnikoff is now able to reply.
thanks to the discovery Of the cell poisons.
IT may be asserted that the serum en-
ployed In leprosy encloses toxines. notably
hemolysine and leuco-toxiDe.
Prof. Metchnikoff permitted a corre-
spondsht to read an advance copy Of a
pamphlet on certain studies ON seniIe
decay" 1t is extremely technical and fully
Ineligible only to specialists 1t deals
largely with the causes OF senile decay de-
sulting in death. Referring to tests estab-
fishing the belief that death is an inherent
attribute Of all living things. Prof. Metch-
nixon says that biologists have sought in
vain for any proof Of this. He points out
the Weissmann development of the idea OF
immortality Of uncellular animals and
plants. which are reproduced Indefinitely
by repeated division.
Weissmann holds that death originated
In poiycellular organisms on account of the
difference arising between terminating and
somatic cells. concluding that the real
cause Of death must be sought not in
waste OF somatic cells. but in the limitation
CT reproductive power of the cells. Prof.
Me;ehhikof enters fully into the atrophy Of
certain cells Of old people and brute ami
mails, and experiments made on the latter
oy the infusion of serums to check the
decay. Describing the deadly struggle be-
tween the various cells, he says:
sometimes it is the leucocytes which de-
YOUR tie atrophy cells and sometimes GER
tain phagocytes, e. g., muscular sarco-
plasma. and in the atrophying of striated
fbres"
Prof. Metchnikoff's scheme is, briefly. to
fortify the weaker cells. and the expert
ments are leading to hopes that those
now falling easy victims will be enabled
to offer longer resistance 10 the assaults.
Theoretically. Of course, such resistance
may be indefinitely prolonged.