Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-05-09
"OSLERISM" AND SOCIAL HY.
GENE.

GENE.
Washington Star: 1t Is unfOrtun.
ate that the so-called "Oslcr theory"
OF supcrannuatiOn should ever have
been taken seriously, and especially
that it continues to be the subject of
denials and dcnunciations by public
speakers and writer's. Yesterday Dr..
Harvey w. Wiley reverted to this
theme, which has almost passed out
of public attention. In the course OF
an address in which he emphatically
denounced the idea that a man has
reached his limit of usefulness at 60
years of age. In all likelihood Dr..
Oslcr himself very seriously regrets
ever having made the remark which
gave rise to the notion that he advO-
Gated the chlOroforming men of 20.
because they had passed beyond the
point of effectiveness in life. He has
repeatedly explained that he used the
expression only in 4 jOCular sense
and that he has never entertained the
idea of su]perannuatiOn at 60 or at
20, but the notion persists in the pub.
lie mind that his proposition was Sc
riOnsly intended, at least as an ey-
preston of belief in the comparative
nsclcssncss of mcn at the age of three
score years and ten.
The truth about this matter is that
there Is no possibility of fixing any
limit in terms OF years Of life TO the
social efficiency of man. Instances of
valuable old age arc too numerous to
be even summarized. of men reaching
their highest powers of political, sci
%cntific, professional and commercial
value after passing the age of 60, of
men whose long years of preparation,
bringing them even to the scriptural
limitation. have been only preliminary
to unreasonable social value. And
J''t ~ lIC I'LL uliIlltI lltIc are
countless instances of early maturity
OF mental powers, men gaining great
social value before reaching the ago
OF %. SO wide is the range of hr,-
man efficiency that any attempt to
establish boundaries in terms of years
is idle and proftless, and Dr.. Osler
unquestionably realized this fact when
in the course OF his lecture he used.
Tor purposes of striking illustration, a
form OF phraseology designed merely
to indicate that at 20 a man, regard
ed as a physical machine, was neces-
Sarlly slowing up in his PAGES.
Nevertheless. the subject has a GER
tain value in that it brings now ana
again forcibly to notice the fact that
human efficiency is very largely a
question of self care. The physical
engine requires even more careful
handling than the mechanical engine.
1t is an automatic process, in that
life IS maintained through no CON
sclous process of will, but at the same
time every man is. with few eXcep-
tons. his own engineer. and can main |
tain that degree Of efficiency which
he is willing to work for through dill
gent exercise and attention to diet and
abstcntiOn from those things which
experience shows to be harmful.
While in some cases, Of course, there
is hereditary weakness or perhaDs
some chance Of infectious disease low.
ering the vitality and weakening the
powers Of resistance, or an accident,
IN most cases each man is master of
his W physical destiny, and it is
OF the utmost importance that this
fact should be borne in upon all mem.
bers of society, coupled with the prin-
ciple of social sanitation.
Never was the world so alive as
1t is today 10 the Importance of
health. NumberlesS activities are in
evidence making for the Improvement
IN the conditions in which men live.
the eradication OF preventative dis
eases. the Improvement of foods, and
safeguarding OF life against accidents
ana needless menaces. Dr.. Wiley in
ms talk last night laid stress upon
these works of humanity, TO the end
OF showing that if society does its
duty in the passage and enforcement
OF proper laws and the provision of
necessary bulwarks against disease
1t Will be easy for a man to control his
physical destinies and enjoy good
health at that age when his mental
powers are at their highest point.