The Bossier banner., 1911-03-30
BILE for the larger part Of the dealt
rate after middle life are of the degen

These conditions may be due to nerve |
strain affecting the heart and arteries
or to the circulation In the blood Of |
poisonous principles. the products OF |
indigestion and insufficient combustion. |
In fact. these troubles are usually the |
result of intemperance In eating. drink |
ing. working or playing.
Dsgsnsrativs Diseases.
A most comnendable and enthuSi-
astic campaign 10 being wagtd 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 in 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 los per
cent.
This Is 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 10 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 br
lief. No such increase Is shown by
British statistics until the age Of sixty
five is reached
The high cost Of living" may he n
factor In that the struggle for exist.
ence Is harder and involves more
strain ! am inclined to the belief.
however. that too much prosperity Is Il
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 ~.
palling. and this surplus Of nutrition.
combined with the strenuous life and
Incorporate habits fostered by our
rapidly developing and complex civ
ilization. may we'll account for the re-
grettable increase IN the mortality
from degenerative diseases
Principles Of Prevention.
As I have already suggested. gotNl
start In childhood thrice arms man
against these degenerative affections
But the strongest constitution In ma
turity may yield to abuse. and the
time is coming when the man wh0
throws away the splendid nsset Oi
sound health will be looked upon as a
social enemy. Since the degenerativs
affections that lead to premature old
age are the result Of intemperancc
using the term in its hroadest sense
temperance. also used In its widest sig
nificance. is the keynote Of prevention
Importance Of Exercise.
As middle life approaches and ther.
Is Il slowing down Of the vital activi
ties disinclination for exercise Otter
develops. This Is to a certain extcn
normal. The man Of forty who at
tempts to keep up with football. base
ball or even tennis Ia taking heav,
chances. The strain on heart and NJ
teries may lead to chronic changes
more than counterbalancing the bcne
fit from exercise But with the aban
dOnment Of active sports and with neg
iect to exercise there IL often an IN
crease In the amount Of fond an'
stimulants taken. and with increasing
business care or social. activities tn
furnace becomes clogged."
1t Is important. therefore. to PR
serve proper balance in these thing.
Slow down in the matter Of strenuo,l
competitive exercise. but get enOug
exercise to burn up your food and pr
n vent the accumulation Of fat and foo
poisOns.
3, Slow down in the matter of diet an
& do not let the pleasures of the tabl
20 tempt you to gradually increased l,
diligence in rich food a. the more II
g tivc pleasures Of life are relinquished
,e Golf. billiards. hill climbing. hun
Il ing. fishing. are all beneficial forms {
N exercise which may be indu:ged Il
into old age.
lg Alcohol In Old Age.
" It used to be thought that wine vi
O. a good stimulant In old age. but Il
wisest physicians now pronoun'
against this view. There Is no sour
). physiological reason why alcoh
- should be beneficial In old age. and
!" :" clinical practice 1t Is found to be !
= furious. How the feeble tissues Of Il
aged can be benefited by cell poiss
te like alcohol 1t II difficult to conceive.
g. Value Of Bathing.
~ Regular bathing, preferably the CO
-. shower or plunge. by keeping up
"a, good skin action relieves the heart Al
kidneys Of extra work and favors I
maintenance of a normal tension
the blood vessels.
- Danger Of Constipation.
=, Metchnikoff believes that the q
- sorption of toxic matter from the lar
intesrines is an important influence
- causing old age. He suggests the u
Of sour milk or preparation Of I
bacilli which cause milk to becOl
sour to combat the microbes that
fest the large intestines.
~ Some painstaking experiments ha
- been made along this line. but the
ny suits thus far are negative.
VI However. buttermilk and other &C
az milk preparations are healthful a
.e' may he tried. especially where th'
!o' Is constipation or Intestinal fermen