Evening star., 1948-06-23
By Thomos r. Henry
Science Editor OF The Sfor

CHICAGO, June 23.-A far-reach-
dng experiment in turning back the
:elock was reported to the American
Medical Association here today.
/: For the past decade, ever since the
discovery of sex hormones, it has
been known that administration of
some of these substances, which can
:be produced synthetically, could
bring back some Of the physical and
mental vigor of youth. But there
was no way of renewing an old heart
or old lungs.
p, This was the starting point of
the work reported by Drs. William
B kountz, Lilli Hofstader, Margaret
Chiefh and Estben Kirk of Wash
1ngton University, st. Louis. There
is a wierd and very rare disease
progenia. Only 40 cases have been
reported in medical literature and
one of these was that of a St. Louis
colored boy who died of heart
attack at T. Victims of the malady
became ENTHUSIASTICALLY rs or
80-in their early teens. They show
all the physical signs of senflity.
This convinced the st. Louis in
vestigators that there was some
pathological process connected with
aging which might be slowed in
normal people just as it is speeded
in progenla victims.
Treatment Shows Results.
The first step was the admin
istration of androgen and estrogen,
respectively male and female sex
hormones, in combination to both
men and women. Results were as
expected. The general condition of
both men and women in their late
70s without any chronic malady
improved. They could take more
exercise without getting tired.
Memory was better. They made bet
ter marks on intelligence tests.
Still, DR.. KountZ explained today,
this went only little way toward
solution Of the major problem, for
ageing is far more than a deficiency
of hormones. 1t is characterized by
a steadily decreasing blood supply
to the tissues and Shriveling of
all organs. The effect of hormones
ordinarily will be quite temporary
SO far as general physical welfare
Is concerned.
Feeding of additional proteins at
first proved futile. The ageing or
ganism could not utilize them. But
all proteins are themselves built up
of amino acids, II of which have
been found essential to human life
When these II were fed to the age
ing men and women it was found
that they could be utilized much
better than the proteins themselves
to build new tissue.
Needs Are Determined.
Protein deficiency varies tor in
dividuals. 1t can be measured by
complicated technique so that the
needs of an aging person can be
pretty accurately determined The
same is true of vitamins. When
these two deficiencies, differing for
each individual, are measured and
corrected, the value of the sex hor-
mones for general bodily and mental
welfare can be prolonged almost in
definitely, whereas it ordinarily
would disappear in few weeks.
Maladies of old age are of in
creasing importance, DR.. Kountz
pointed out, as more and more per-
sons now are living into these criti-
cal years. There has been great
increase of deaths with maladies as
sociated with aging. particularly
cancer and heart disease When
these occur they must be treated
specifically, he explained, but there
is good reason to believe that their
incidence can be reduced greatly by
slowing the aging process with hor-
mones, vitamins and proteins.
Atomic poisons. which DR.. Stat