The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-30
LONGEVITY AND ATTAINMENT.
Rules by Which Aged Persons Ma.
Preserve Their Health.
From the New York Herald.

Il
"Londg life has at all times been re-
garded as one of the greatest blessind
man can possess" So says Sir Lauder
Brunton, NJ D., D. Sc, in introducing
his address on Longevity and Means of
Attaining IT. published in a recent islue
| of the London Lancet. And Sir Lanler
treats his subject in a very practical
and common-sense manner. He divides
the risks which old people run into ix-
ternal and internal. From the very Ia
ture of things the aged are peculiarly shs-
ceptible to both infneces in consequence
of their gradually decreasing vital reskt-
ance
In regard to the influences frIm
| without" septic infection holds a leading
! place Aseptic surgery has done lnth
! In directly counteracting such influences
in surgical diseases and the advanced
preventive measures against miscrolfc
| ailments in general have made a like
| gratifying score.
| Despite antiseptics, however. eryspelhs
| Is still a very common cause of death
| among the aged, as are also bronchitis
and pneumonia Both of the latter all
ments, although usually ascribed TO cdd
| alone, are I'm reality due to superaddsd
| nfective agents: The cold is simny
the lowering of vitality-already feeble at
! best-and prepares the way for the wal it
| ing mcrobe.
be especially guarded against all low teh-
peratures and kept comfortably worm.
Another emphasized danger Is that of
catching cold from others. When a
cold goes through house" 1t usually
ends with the death of the grandparent
Another point worthy of considera ton
is the effect of dust in producing these
dreaded "colds." Millions of pathogehic
germs are distributed by such means in
most subtle and curious ways: when I
used my consulting room as a library"
says DR.. Brunton, IT found very FREE
quently that if I had occasion to consult
a book from one of the top shelves I was
apt to get cold In my head'-evidently
from the germ laden dust.
But more interesting part of the dis
cusson refers to the internal causes of
senility. Foremost among these is the
| degeneration of the arteral system,
whereby the artesies become thiclxened,
rigid and contracted as the result of re-
tanned toxins in the system.
| Arterio-scerosis and consequent high
blood presences explain apoplexy, con-
tracted kidney and enlargement of the
| heart.
To restain the process, hygiene. plain
| living, proper food, sufficient rest and
sleep, and reasonable exercises come to
our aid.
The author maintains that old people
do not, as n rule, chew their food thor
oughly, and besides consume too much
meat He alludes to certain facts which
make his criticisms very impressive. For
instance. food swallowed In bulk by the
aged is a fruitful source of cancer of the
stomach (on account of the irrita ton
which the bolus causes). while meat it
self produces toxin which directly in
| duces the hardening of old arteries
Hence meat should be restricted within
proper limits and a farinaceous diet sub
stituted
| 1t is a pity that tobacco-the true So
lace of the old man-should be forbidden
as this also in its own insidous way
| affects the blood vessels injurously.
OF prime Importance also is the ready
| elimination of waste products in the sys-
tenn of regular intestinal stimulation and
| by abundance of drinking water to clear
the kidneys. Regular gymnastic respira-
| tory movements should be made. thus
expanding lung space; at the same time
the different muscles of the back and
shoulders should be regularly exercised
to prevent rheumatic palms, and especial
ly the lumbago which is so common in
later life
| realize that he must do everything mod
erately. His fires burn slowly, and he
needs but little fuel. If he is wise he
needs the general admoniton to take his
time on the down grade and use an ex-
ira brace at the sleeper places. If he
| appears a little fussy at times, never
mind. His life now depends solely on
| little duties often painfully performed.