The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-23

but, added Sir James, "I confess that
to me the quest for a katalyser that
will put a stop to death seems to be
On a plane y with the quest for Ell
In the elucidation of the difficult
problems of nutrition and malnutrition,
DR.. Allchin has done admirable work,
and has supplied us with useful con-
captions of the actual changes that are
taking place in the living tissues them
selves, conceptions which must help us
in devising means of relief in the treat
ment of disease. T agree with him that
vital chemistry will yet give US the
than heretofore with atrophy and de-
generation, and will so help to post
pone senility, but T doubt if it will ever
repeal the canon fixed against terres-
trial Immortality. However much we
may mitigate the ills that flesh is heir
to be grounded with Sleep"
| We cannot add to the vital impulse
with which each individual enters life,
| but we can see that it has fair play
and prevent it from being spent in
passing obstacles and prematurely ex-
hausted.
Certain great measures are first of
all necessary if we would prolong the
days of the masses of our people. Reg
ular employment must be secured and
poverty diminished by our statesmen
and economists, 50 that we may no
longer have amongst us 13 100000 on
the verge Of hunger and dying in multi.
Ftudes before their time. y
But within the sphere Of preventive
medicine, altho much has been done,
much infinitely remains to be done. If
! old age is to be attained, a good start
in life must be given, and hence the
Importance Of these questions as to in
FAINT feeding and milk supply; which we
are to discuss here If it is to be
reached by a proper proportion Of way.
farers in sound condition, we must re-
duce the prevalence Of those infectious
diseases which carry off so many Of the
not kill, and we must see that our child
rem have sufficiency Of food and a
suficiency Of teeth with which to- eat
If it is to be wisely pursued, we must
foster the self-respect and arrest the
degeneration Of our people by giving
them decent houses and promote their
physical development by affording them
facilities for exercise. Peculiarly de-
sirable it is that we should warn, the
public against those causes Of prema
ture senility which operate with disas
| trous effect when childhood is over. ]
am not prepared to indulge in any gen
eral denunciation Of alcohol, but there
can be no question that an excess Of il
does make men old before their time.
Whatever tends to diminish disease i
conducive to longevity, but in our en-
deavor to promote it, we must have re
gard to mental, as well as to bodily
hygiene. A great deal of premature
decline in force and energy is due t,
over-use Of the brain and nervous sys
tenn.
And as regards the masses of ou
people, we must. as far as may be, ale
vlate the anxieties that press on them
and surely one step in that direction
would be the establishment Of old-ag
pensions. Life insurance has, by tn
, composure Of mind it has secured, don
something to prolong life, and nationa
insurance against old age, by removin
, those apprehensions that must some
times harass even the bucolic mind
would, I believe, contribute to a hal
old age: The French chamber of deputie
has, within the last ten days, unani
mously adopted a bill granting relic
to the aged and infrm. e..