New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
.ENCL|SHMEN DIE YOUNG.
Mortality Rate Between As and
IS Years of Age Growing.
MODERN PACE TOO SWIFT
London Health Officers Report
Starts Discussion on Effects
Of Present Day Hustling.

London, Dec. 1t.-Dr. Newsholme, the
Medical officer OF Health to the Local
Government Board. in his annual report
has created something akin to a scare
with the statement that the death rate
among men between forty-five and sixty
FIVE years Of age Is increasing and is due
to the rapidly increasing aggregation Of
population in towns and Of the associated
industrial conditions" All this he points
out, is in spite OF the great reduction in
the general death rate due to improved
social and sanitary conditions.
THE analysis OF the general death rate
for the two sexes shows" DR.. Newsholme
says, that the improvement in mortality
has not taken place at all periods OF life,
the higher ages participating In II little
or not at ALL" And, according to DR..
Ncwsholme and other medical authorities,
Il would appear that I'VE become pre-
maturely old through arterial desener-
alton soon after forty-nve." when the
pace OF the modern hustle begins TO be-
come too much for the overstrained blood
vessels.
The report adds the startling fact that
both in men and women diseases Of the
heart and blood vessels were the regis
tered cause OF about one-third OF the total
deaths between the ages OF fifty-fve and
sixty-five.
The high mortality from diseases OF
the heart and blood vessels Is In part"
says the report. "a consequence Of rheu-
matte fever IN earlier life"
ny a
by the Local Government Board to in
vestigate arteriaI degeneration and its
premature occurrence. says there can be
no question that the strain Of a persist
entity high blood pressure Is a fertile
cause OF premature age. The wearing out
OF arteries is accelerated by mechanical
strain, such as anxiety and an active
mind would induce, causing high blood
pressure.
DR.. Frederick J. Smith, prominent
consulting physician. gave II as his opin-
ion that lowing to the telephone, the
motor car and the taxicab one Grams into
a couple OF hours to-day the amount OF
work that used 10 take us in a quieter
way half day or more. II seems to me
We are living at a quicker pace and
that our nerves will not stand H.
There is no doubt" he adds, that a
very large number OF patients-men over
forty-come to me with what l have la
belled heart disease-sine bruit-that Is to
say. not valvular. 1t really means a de-
generative change In the heart muscles
and the blood vessels.
II have no doubt In my own mind that
this change now comes on at an earlier
stage than II used to- There is also an
other element In the problem. namely.
the nerves. 1t is, to say the least, an
open question whether these degenerative
changes do not almost always begin with
the nerves.
THE cause Is the same-the increa sing
strain. What one really means. think.
by the greater strain is the greater
amount OF work crammed into a given
time"
The views of the medical profession.
however. hardly coincide with those en-
pressed by men prominent In the world
Of business. Gordon Selfridge. head OF
one Of the largest drygoods stores in
London. believes that with plenty of
sleep and plenty to eat no man can work
too hard.
Man as a whole" he says. "is just
like mans arm. The arm that has no
exercise becomes inefficient and withers.
The arm that has plenty of exercise,
with the necessary rest. becomes the
stronger arm. So with man. IT. he has
plenty to think about and plenty to keep
him busy he necessarily becomes the
strongest man.
I'm Germany. where men are working
harder than ever. We do not hear of any
dying too young. In America. where
men work very hard indeed. there is no
special trouble in this direction. bust
ness man is not old In America at sixty
five. His business keeps him vigorous,
young and IT.
Nor does the business man In America
retire. AS he gets to be sixty.fve or