Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-11
THE DANGEROUS AGE
By H. Addington Bruce


| Copyright, 1919 by the Associated Newspapers
TTNDER prevailing living conditions and
| habits the decade between forty and fifty
years of age must be accounted Supera-
lively dangerous period.
1t ought to be for all men and women the
period of greatest usefulness, with the full
maturing of their mental powers But to mul-
titudeS it means an untmely beginning OF
mental and physical decay. And its danger sig
nails not being needed, it means to many ar
untimely death.
The expectation of life, mortality statistics
leave no doubt, is now less at the age of forty
than it was even quarter of century ago
| As explained in an official statement issued by
the United States public health service:
"Life expectancy during infancy and child
hood has increased owing to more intelligent
care of young children, to the introduction
of diphtheria ant-toxin and other means OF
combating the infectious diseases, and to more
sanitary living.
"But the diseases of degeneration are in
creaSing especially those involving the kidneys,
heart and blood vessels, particularly young
persons not employed at manual labor"
This deplorable situation has several causes.
In part it is due to increasing tendency
to engage in Sedentary occupations. Though
this, to be sure, would not be harmful if the
Sedentary workers appreciated as they should
the need for regular and adequate physical &C
tiyity.
Failing to exercise adequately, and at the
same time inclining to Overeat, the kidneys
become overloaded. Arteries grow brittle and
weak, the heart muscles flabby. There is a
general poisoning because of failure to- elimi
nate properly the waste products OF digestion.
Another factor which counts for much is
the greater herdng together of people in large
cities.
Here, again, untimely decay would not re-
suit if there were due appreciation of eS-
Sential principles in personal hygiene.
People, for example, do not need to keep
late hours in cities than they would keep if
living in country districts. But, having more
opportunities for night amuSementS. the ten
dency is all in the direction of staying up late.
Nervous energy thus is lost through loss OF
sleep. There is further and greater loss through
the senseleSS business and social overStrenuouS-
ness which city life fosters.
The strain of keeping up with the JoneSeS"
coffinS nnumerable men and women long be-
fore their time For innumerable others the
money -making passion spells heart disease or
apoplexy or death from nervous exhaustion.
City life in itself, of course puts a greater
tax on the nervous system than the simple rural
life 1t increases opportunities and occasions
for worry, thereby making it ever more neceS-
Sary for city jewellers to school themselves in
emotional control.
Because many of them believe l should
say most of thenl--do not thus school them
selves, the evil effects of nOn-exerciSe, over
eating, late hours, and other unhygienic indiS-
cretionS aggravated. AS forty is reached
symptoms of decline become unmiStakable.
Even then rebuilding is not too late. Much
may be done to avert outright disaster if sage
medical counsel be promptly taken. Though
always, it goes without saying, prevention is
easier and better than cure.
And prevention means simply the establish
ing of sound living habits in the early years.
This is the thing indispensable if the growing
rise in the mid-life death rate from degenera-
tive diseases is to be effectively checked
AS THE SPARKS FLY
Anyway, it was Bozzaris who gave the
first strike order.
If you want martyr, get a hungry man.
You may lead him to the steak any time
The trouble with the PLENTY OF Room at
the Top" slogan is the most OF desire to