The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-03

The arterial system of the human body
may be compared to the length of a small
calibre rubber tube which has been fas-
tened to the nozzle of the swrange. If
the end of the rubber tube is dipped into
water and the plunger OF the syringe is
raised, the rubber tube and the syringe
will both be filled with water. If the
free end of the rubber tube is now tied
up it gives correct representation of
the way in which the arterial system
works.
When the plunger of the syringe is
pushed down the water is forced into the
elastic tube, which swells out under the
pressure. As soon as the plunger is re-
leased the elasticity of the tube forces
the water into the syringe again.
That is exactly what happens in the hu
place of the syringe and the arteries that
of the rubber tube. Each beat of the
heart forces blood into the closed arteries
At the end of the beat, or impulse, the
elastic arteries force the blood back
again.
This operation srepeatted without ces-
sation as long as life lasts. Just as long
as the arteries retain their elasticity and
their ability to promptly return the blood
supplied to them, just so long is the own
er of the arteries in possession of per-
feet health.
When the arteries began to lose their
elasticity is the time at which old age
begins omake itself apparent.
That is what Virchow meant when he
said: Every man is as old as his ar
teries."
The subject of the deterioration Of the
arterial coat in man is one that has at
tracted the attention of many genera
tons Of physicians, 1t has been discov-
cred that the gradual weakening of the
muscular fibre of the artery which re-
suits in loss of elasticity, is due to the
deposit Of various salts of lime in the It's
sues. In other words, the arteries become
calcified.
Up to the present time all ATTEMPTS to
prevent the deposition of lime salts in
the arterial coats have resulted in fail
ure Mostof these attempts took the
form of the administration of various
medicines, intended either to dissolve tie
lime or to prevent the formation of cal
cifying materials in the body.
1t is to the improvements that have
been made in the microscope more than
TO anything else that an improved meth
cd Of treatment has been discovered. Sci
entists noticed that there was a marked
difference between the cells found in the
lymph of old men and that of healthy
youth. 1t was at once apparent that in
youth the cells were larger, more numer-
Gus, and much more active.
AT about this time it seems to have oc-
surred to many scientists that if plen-
tiful supply of these life-giving cells
could be transferred from a young man
to an old one the changes incident to
old age would be at least arrested Some
of the people who were smitten with this
idea promptly ruche1 into print and told
the public that if such a thing could be
done the results would be eternal life
Others made experiments and, as a re-
suit, announced that while the theory
was perfect the practice was impossible
They said that live cells could not be
placed in the human system without do
ing a great deal more harm than good
and some of the experiments which were
thereupon attempted seemed to- prove the
justice of the claim. Time and again the
attempt has been made to transplant liv-
ing cells from one living animal to the
other, so that decay or disease in one
body might be checked by the healthy
cell of life from another 1t has nearly
always failed. The most familiar exam
pie of this con be found in the now OBJ
solete operation of transferring blood In
the old days this operation was often
performed, it being considered that the
infusion of healthy blood into the veins
of a sick person would give him strength
While perfect in theory the operation
nearly always failed in practice. Now
adays it is never performed by surgeons
of modern attainments. When the in
fusion of blood is indicated now It is the
practice to inject salt water into the pa
tents veins. This is usually effective.
Nevertheless, 1t has been felt that if it
were possible to place active life-making
cells in a weakened human body it would
be a tremendous step toward the attain
ment of a much longer span of life than
is at present vouchsafed TO man.
This is the basis of fact upon which
Professor Metchnikof places his theory.
He says he has found that he can posi-
lively increase the number of red cells,
or corpuscles, in the blood by the injec-
ton of a carefully prepared serum. Tt
increase the red cells is equivalent to in
creasing the wear-resisting power of the
arteries, for the red cell appears to be the
active factor in preserving the tone of
these blood vessels
Most of the work that is now being
done looks toward the elaboration of a
specific serum for each organ of the hu-
man body For instance, 1t is believed
that properly made extract of the thy
roid gland will have specific action upon
the throat and voice and that serum
of the liver or kidney will have direct
effect upon those organs.
London, Jan. 2.-Richard Croker, of New
York, who broke his leg yesterday near
Vantage, while mounting a horse, is re-
ported this evening to be progressing
favorably toward recovery.
New York, Jan. 2-The stockholders OF
the National City hank met today and
ratified the proposition Of the directors 20
increase the capital stock from $1,000 900
to 100000.
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