The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-05-12
lesser decree.

polSuuOuS pIlu'lDlcS' lue pl'hhN'H VI
Indigestion and insufficient combustion.
In fact. these troubles are usually the
result of intemperance In eating. drink
ing, working or playing.
Degenerativs Diseases.
A most commendnble and enthusi-
astic campaign Is being waged against
| tuberculosis and other infectious dis.
eases, but deaths from heart disease.
kidney trouble, paralysis, etc, excite
no comment and are taken as matter
of course. The death rate from tuber-
culosis has been reduced about 80 per
cent I'm the past thirty years, while
during that same period the death rate
in the United States registration area
| from diseases OF heart, blood vessels
and kidneys has Increased l05 per
cent
This is n nut to crack for well mean
Ing people who shut their eyes to all
that Is unpleasant and sinister in our
civilization and hug the thought that
the world Is necessarily growing better
every day.
| The mean duration OF life has un-
doubtedly greatly increased in the past
century, but the Increase Is due to the
lowering OF the death rate among
young people After middle life there
has been decided increase in the
death rate. At least the evidence avail
able in this country warrants this be-
| lief. No such increase is shown by
British statistics until the age of sixty
I've is reached.
The high cost of living" may be a
factor In that the struggle for exist
ence Is harder and involves more
strain. I am inclined to the belief
however, that too much prosperity is
much more potent cause of the high
mortality at the advanced ages.
The amount OF food that is wasted
in the average American family is ap-
palling, and this surplus Of nutrition,
combined with the strenuous life and
Incorporate habits fostered by our
rapidly developing and complex civ
ilization, may well account for the re-
grettable increase in the mortality
from degenerative diseases.
Principles of Prevention.
AS l have already suggested, good
start in childhood thrice arms a man
against these degenerative affections.
But the strongest constitution In ma
turity may yield to abuse. and the
time is coming when the man who
throws away the splendid asset of
sound health will be looked upon as a
social enemy. Since the degenerative
affections that lead to premature old
age are the result Of intemperance,
using the term in its broadest sense,
temperance, also used in its widest sig
nificance, Is the keynote Of prevention.
Importance of Exerciss.
AS middle life approaches and there
Is slowing down of the vital activi-
ties a disinclnation for exercise often
develops. This Is to certain extent
normal. The man of forty who att
tempts to keep up with football. base
ball or even tennis is taking heavy
chances. The strain on heart and ar
teries may lead to chronic changes
more than counterbalancing the bene-
fit from exercise. But with the aban-
donment of active sports and with neg
lect to exercise there is often an in.
crease in the amount of food and
stimulants taken, and with increasing
business care or social activities the
furnace becomes clogged."
1t Is important, therefore, to pre-,
serve proper balance in these things
Slow down in the matter of strenuous
competitive exercise, but get enough
exercise to burn up your food and pre-.
vent the accumulation of fat and food
poisons.
Slow down In the matter of diet and
do not let the pleasures of the table
tempt you to gradually increased in.
dulgence in rich food as the more ac
tive pleasures of life are relinQuished
Golf, billiards, hill climbing, hunt
ing. fishing, are all beneficial forms OF
exercise which may be INDUCED far
into old age.
Alcohol In Old Age.
1t used to be thought that wine was
a good stimulant in old age, but the
wisest physicians now pronounce
against this view. There is no sount
physiological reason why alcoho
should be beneficial in old age, and il
clinical practice it is found to be in
furious. How the feeble tissues of the
aged can be benefited by cell poison
like alcohol it is difficult to conceive.
Value of Bathing.
Regular bathing, preferably the coo
shower or plunge, by keeping up ;
good skin action relieves the heart ant
kidneys of extra work and favors tn,
maintenance of a normal tension il
the blood vessels.
Danger of Constipation.
MetchuikOff believes that the alb
sorption of toxic matter from the larg,
intestines is an important influence il
causing old age. He suggests the us,
Of sour milk or preparation of tht
bacilli which cause milk to become
sour TO combat the microbes that in
fest the large intestines.
Some painstaking experiments hav'
been made along this line, but the re
suits thus far are negative.
However, buttermilk and other sou
milk preparations are healthful ant