The New York herald., 1921-03-13
The Simple Science
of Staying Young
OLD AT FORTY OR YOUNG AT
SIXTY. BY Robert S. Carroll M. D.
The Macmillan Company.

OLD AT FORTY OR YOUNG AT
SIXTY. BY Robert S. Carroll. M. D.
The Macmillan Company.
DR.. Carroll has written several help
full books for invalds, notably those
sufferiag from nervous disorders and
in this new volume he seeks the wider
circle of those who are stepping toward
the decades that lie between forty and
sixty, or who are already treading their
somewhat dubiocs highways. We say
dubious" advisedly, for Dr. Carroll
makes 1t very clear that "the sixties"
will mark for us either defeat or tri-
umph, according to the manner in
which we have conformed TO the teach
ings of this science of growing DID,"
as he calls 1t.
We age differently. he says. Some
of US lose our spiritual fires first, even
in youth, as the prophet clearly under
stood when he wrote that the young
men should see visions, but the old
only iream dreams. Many of us begin
to age mentally after thirty-five years
when capitalization sets in and the
mind settles into a comfortable salts
faction. In the body, happily, the ca
pacity for physical readjustment ling
ers long. Failure of body" says the
author, "the failure we call age, indi-
Gates always that the balance between
the vital organs and the work thrown
upon those organs, is breaking
work being that of the elimination of
the poisonous by-products which are
constantly forming in our bodies
through faulty metabolism.
In the very simplicity of the remedy
for this lies it's own defeat, like the
washing in Jordan. The oxygenation
of .he lungs by fresh air, simple, ade-
quate food and exercise are all that is
required The exercise has two pur-
poses-the necessary oXygenation Of
the body and the breaking up of bodily
toxins through perfect oxidation The
oxygenation of the body is by no means
merely matter of breathing air into
the lungs. 1--WE may take deep breath
ing exercises until we are giddy with
oxygen intoXication and increase but
small fraction the total amount of oXy
gen in our bodily tissues" says DIR.
Carroll. This must be done through
active muscular exercise. The proper
oxidation which follows will both re-
duce the amount of toxic matter
formed in the system and even utilize
those already found
1t is these toxins which are the ain
factor in producing the phenomena Of
old age. When, therefore, the body is
underoxygenatcd or overfed, ii is not
able to keep up the daily restitutions
which are necessary to keep the bal
ance Of health secure, and autointoxi-
cation and subacidosis ensue, with
their train of ills.
DIR. Carroll devotes two chapters
called Foods That Wreck and Pleas
ure and Profit in Eating" to a sound,
scientific. physicianly statement of the
errors and dangers of wrong eating, of
overeating and of the meaning and
value of a balanced diet. In this he is
never "faddy" or exaggerated, but al
ways moderate and convincing.
The chapter on work and exercise
gives excellent prescriptions for the
muscular health of the sedcntaiy
worker, and following chapters give
attention to the mental and spiritual
strands which enter into the making
of vigorous and successful old age.
In each of these subjects DIR. Carroll is
clear. definite and helpful, and espe-
cially is encouraging to those who in
late middle life realize their earlier
physiological sins and desire to atone
for them. This may be done unless
some vital organ is disabled" he as
sures us. "the average man of affairs
and his wife can double, yes, often
treble their physical reserve, can in
crease severalfold their vital capacity
as late as sixty"