Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-12

~ ERIATRICS: the diseases Of old age
p and their treatment" Is the title OF
an interesting new work by Dr.. l. Il.
Nascher the well known New York physician.
The book is published by p. Blak1stons son
4 Co., Philadelphia.
The unfamiliar term "ger1atrics" is derived
from the two Greek words "geron," meaning
"old man." and "iatrikos, meaning meolcal
treatment" It is in fact, the science OF cur
ing and keeping in check the diseases tnat
enlict old age. 1t is science which has re-
ceived comparatively little attention, for the
ordinary course Is to look upon the diseases
Of old age as sent by benefcent providence
America in particular neglects the care OF
old age, for this is the country Of the young,
and the tendency is to regard old people as an
Improbable burden on the community.
No American work on the subject Of senile
diseases has appeared in thirty years. Tho
subject has received more attention in Europe
where the celebrated Professor Metchnikoff
has devoted his life to studying the influence
of putrefactive conditions in the large intestine
In producing senility.
There are excellent arguments IN favor OF
giving more attention than do to the dis
eases OF old age, in addition to The religious
moral and humanitarian reasons Tor such
cause From the practical point OF vtew by
combating old age we reduce the very
siderable burden that now falls on society and
private persons from the care of the aged. We
should benefit greatly by prolonging the period
of active and productive maturity in the most
useful members of society.
DR.. Nascher has analysed and CLASSIFIED the
diseases and symptoms OF old age in very
thorough and useful manner. He summarizes
the treatment employed in standard practise
for the conditions mentioned and outlines
many new and promising methods.
All the cells of the body except those OF the
Train, are different in the old person from the
corresponding cells of the same person in youth.
In the constant waste and repair OF tissue the
newer cells differ from the earlier ones. The
only connecting link between the child organ
ism and the senile organization is the brain, as
1t is believed that brain cells do not regenerate
themselves. There is still the same per-
sonality, modified by intelligence, education and
the acquisition and suppression OF traits. Con.
tinuity of activity is maintained by retention OF
sentence in the original cells instead OF by
transmission from generation to generation OF
cells as In other tissues.
In the majority of normal persons there is
distinct point at which old age sets in. 1t Is
marked by shrinking of the whole frame. 1t
occurs commonly between the sixtieth and
SEVENTEEN years.
A very valuable point made by DR.. Nascher
Is that mental stimulation is the most import
ant measure in the hygiene of the aged. Any
thing which will tend to make the senescent
take an interest in life beyond their own
little ego will benefit them. The psychic in.
duence Of hattery is more potent in arousing
ambition than drugs or reasoning. 1t will
arouse renewed pride in appearance which is
usually lost when ambition is lost in the con-
temptation of death in the near future
Just as long this pride in appearance is
maintained, so will the individual follow will
1ngly the hygienic rules necessary for his vel.
rare, even though it requires some exertion and
eHort to carry them out. Mental activity
arouses physical activity and creates vigor il
the organism is stillin the condition to respond
Ihe most powerful of the mental stimulants are
cnange OF scene and residence, change in the
mode OF living, young wife or husband, dis
cusslon upon some familiar favorite subject, or
a hobby
The joke about the bald heads in the theatre
Wnere there are pretty chorus girls has
psychological basis. Mental activity is aroused