The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-07-25

erative class, involving the heart, blood
vessels and kidneys. Indeed, where
one Of the conditions exists the others
usually are present TO n greater or
lesser degree.
These conditions may be due TO nerve
strain affecting the heart and arteries
or TO the circulation I'm the blood 81
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.
Desenerstive Diseases.
A most commendable 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 a 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 1O5 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 I'M
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 a 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
FIVE is reached.
The high cost of living" may be
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 have already suggested, a 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 broadcast sense.
temperance, also used I'm its widest sig
nifcance, is the keynote Of prevention.
Importance Of Exercise.
As middle life approaches and there
ID slowing down Of the vital activi-
ties disinclination for exercise often
develops. This is to a certain extent
normal. The man Of forty who at
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-
ut 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 a proper balance I'm 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
diligence 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 sound
physiological reason why alcohol
should be beneficial In old age. and In
clinical practice II Is found to be in
furious. How the feeble tissues of the
aged can be benefited by cell poison
like alcohol II Is difficult to conceive.
Value OF Bathing.
Regular bathing. preferably the COO;
shower or plunge. by keeping up a
good skin action relieves the heart and
kidneys of extra work and favors the
maintenance of a normal tension In
the blood vessels.
Danger Of Constipation.
Metchnikoff believes that the alb
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