OLD AGE. r);57 



Stature decreases with age. According to numerous ineasurenuMits 

 men lose, lietween 50 and 85 years, more than H centimeters (H.KU)), 

 -svomen still more (-t.S centimeters). Sometimes this loss may reach 

 G or even T centimeters. 



Weight also diminishes iluring old age. According to tjuetelet, the 

 maximum weight of men is attained at 40 years of age, of women at 

 50. From GO years onward weight diminishes and at 80 years this 

 loss amounts, on the average, to G kilograms. 



The diminution in the height and weight of the body indicates a 

 general atrophy of the organism in old age. Not only do the soft 

 parts, such as the muscles and the viscera, become lighter, but even the 

 skeleton loses Aveight in the old because of the diminution of minei-al 

 matters. This decalcihcation during old age, extending to all parts 

 of the skeleton, causes a brittleness of the bones of the aged, which 

 often leads to fatal results. One of the greatest representatives of 

 medical science during the nineteenth century, Virchow, at the age 

 of 82 years, in descending from a tramway, made a false step and 

 broke the neck of his femur. In spite of all the attention that coidd 

 be given him he died of the general exhaustion of forces after remain- 

 ing several months in bed. Princess Mathilde fell in her chamber. 

 This fall, whicli. would have had no bad result in a young person, 

 caused in this woman, 8;i years old, a fracture of the neck of the fe- 

 mur. As in the case of Virchow a prolonged confinement to bed led 

 to general malnutrition which terminated in death. This part of the 

 skeleton, the neck of the femur, becomes particularly brittle in the 

 old because of osseous atrophy. 



The muscles are also much subject to atrophy during ohl age. 

 They lose in volume, the muscular tissue becomes paler, the fat 

 between the muscular fasciculi diminishes in quantity and sometimes 

 almost completely disappears. Movements also become slower and 

 muscular force diminishes. Measurements of the force of the hand 

 and of the trunk, made by means of dynamometers, show a progres- 

 sive diminution in the old. This enfeeblement is more pronounced in 

 men than in women. 



The volume and the weight of the viscera also diminishes, although 

 in a different ratio for different organs. In order to explain the gen- 

 eral ati-ophy of the body in old age an attempt has been made to ascer- 

 tain the intimate structure of the organs and tissues of the aged. The 

 visible manifestations of our organs represent the total of the func- 

 tions of the microscopic elements that enter into their constitution. 

 In order to understand the formation of the calcareous deposits upon 

 which Paris is situated, and by aid of which its houses are con- 

 structed, it is necessary to consider the properties of the molhisks that 

 have formed the shells which have accumulated and become cemented 

 together to produce the stones. In the same way. in (.rder to judge 



