The Washington herald., 1911-12-17
METCHNIKOFF SEES
PERPETUAL YOUTH
Russian Scientist Says Old
Age Is Germ.

London. Dec. l6.-That terra incognita,
the land of perpetual youth, or some
thing like it. which exists in the my
thology of nearly every race and coun-
try, will be discovered one of these days,
according to Prof. Elio Metchnikon, the
noted microscopic. Before a society in
Paris called the Optimsts Prof Metch-
nixon told of experiments conducted by
himself which led to the conviction that
old age is a germ and not an inevitable
condition thai cannot be eradicated. The
Optimists' society comprises in its mem
bership many persons distinguished in
science. philosophy. literature, diplomacy,
medicine. and art, and also soldiers and
aviators. Nine. d Agincourt is the high
priestess. The object of the society, as
its name indicates. is to look on the
bright side of things. Prof. MetChnikOf
certainly adhered to that fundamental
principle in holding out hope that the
spring which Ponce de Leon sought in
Florida exists in every land where science
is progressive.
According to what Prof. Metchnikoff
told the Optimists, his inquiries into the
reasons for mental and physical decay
in the human animal had extended over
a period of many years. A close observer
and a persistent experimenter. he had
accumulated a mass of material which
had convinced him that old age was not
a mere wearing out Of the human ma
chine, but a malady with a specific germ.
Further experiments. he said, had located
the virus which was inherent in every
human being. In normal life it was
thrown off as years progressed until fl
naIly ii seized on mans vitality, causing
the hair to turn gray, the skin TO wrinkle,
and the limbs and essential organs to
deteriorate.
Prof. MetChnikoff worked out his theory
into The conviction that the kidneys and
the main digestive tube are the principal
seats OF the germ. Going further. he
prepared serums with which he treated
anthropoid apes. The outcome of this
treatment. he said. confirmed his con-
lectures in every particular. The young
monkeys showed symptoms of old age
after a short period OF the administration
of injections, but this was not accom-
panied by any acute disease in any or
gan. After a month or so a nine-month
old monkey had all the appearance and
actions Of advanced years. To these
statements Prof. Metchnikon added the
assertion that his experiments had pro-
gressed to a point where only step or
two was REQUIRED to find the remedy. He
expressed the belief that as inoculation
for smallpox and diphtheria would give
Immunity from these diseases. so the
lower animals could be freed from the
ravages of age and the human animal
could have his life prolonged beyond the
usual period by protective serum. Not
that life could be prolonged indefinite
Iy in man, he explained, but he believed
that a span of considerable length could
be added
Prof. Metchnikoff has been a persistent
advocate of the theory that life could be
prolonged through artificial means and
his advocacy of a preparation based on
sour milk for the purpose was followed
by a great vogue of this preparation and
kindred lacteal foods in England, A.1er-
lea, and the continent OF Europe.