THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY. 349 



fate to remain alive and yet lose the capacity of enjoyment or, what is 

 even more important, the capacity of being enjoyed. If it be not an 

 integral part of the personality of an old man or woman to present 

 qualities of attractiveness to others, the fullness of life has not been 

 attained. The factors which go to make up the quality of desirable 

 and admirable old age are above all, first and foremost, self respect, 

 an interest in the affairs of others, a dignity and kindliness, a patient 

 and uncomplaining endurance and a capacity constantly exercised to be 

 of use in the world. A woman, for instance, can if she give her undi- 

 vided attention to it, grow old so charmingly that she may at great age 

 attain more grace and fascination than she had in her youth or middle 

 life. We all know instances of this truth though some are thus more 

 blessed than others. A man again may become a greater power for good 

 even when well past the age of so-called usefulness than at any pre- 

 vious time. Nor do these qualifications depend necessarily so much 

 upon the original structure of mind or body as the maintenance of a 

 faithful vigilance and conscious desire to be, and do, that which shall 

 furnish forth these good attributes. 



The principles of action upon which the effects of advancing years 

 may be postponed are simple, clear and practicable. The difficulties 

 are chiefly the indifference or indolence which age begets. Wherever 

 a person has acquired an active desire to retain the freshness of youth 

 and is moderately diligent in pursuing whatever means should be 

 adopted, the results are successful often beyond expectation. The 

 conditions of success are an original soundness of constitution and 

 fairly healthy organs. It might be added reasonably comfortable cir- 

 cumstances, but I know several cases where the environment was far 

 from satisfactory, and daily labor onerous, yet these people were not 

 discouraged. One other condition might be mentioned as needed often, 

 but not constantly, viz., the counsel of a wise physician. Medical 

 advice ought to be more frankly and constantly sought for the lesser 

 infirmities of age than during middle life for reasons obvious. As the 

 internal resistances lessen small disorders more readily throw the 

 actions of the organism out of balance, and fatal results follow seem- 

 ingly small causes. Another prerequisite is consistency and persistence 

 in the measures employed. The balance of power in the old is not 

 easily retained, and regained with far greater difficulty. It is an axiom 

 among horsemen that an old horse can be kept fit if used carefully and 

 constantly, but once allowed to get into poor condition through disuse 

 it can never be reinstated. 



The potentiality of cellular cleanliness, and lymph activity, on the 

 mechanism of life is paramount, and is not yet duly appreciated by 

 men in or out of the profession of medicine. 



Diet has been alluded to already and all that it is needful to say 

 here is to repeat that temperance in food and drink is an essential 



