OLD AGE. 549 



our iiitostinnl flora and by rocnfoirino- our noble elements, so sensitive 

 to luicrobic poisons. 



P)iit. yon may say, all this is theoretical. It may bo scientifif, l)ut 

 it has not been proven. You ma}'^ ask me to speak to you of our 

 present established knowled<re concerning old age, of what modern 

 medicine i)roposes to do in the Avay of remedying this unenviable con- 

 dition. This question has for a long time been under consideration, 

 and I will now give you the last utterance of empiric Avisdom. A 

 imich-esteemed physician of London, Doctor "Weber, Avho is himself 

 very old, has quite recently sunniuirized the means that he used to 

 make his oAvn age supportable and to ameliorate that of his numerous 

 clients. 



These are the rules that he drew up for this purpose: "All the 

 organs must be preserved in a state of vigor. Morbid tendencies, 

 whether hereditary or acquired during life, must be recognized and 

 combated. Moderation must be used in the consumption of food and 

 drink as well as in the pursuit of other corporeal pleasures. The air 

 within and about the dw'elling must be pure. Corporeal exercise 

 must be taken daily in all conditions of weather. In many cases it is 

 also necessary to take respirator}' exercises as well as to walk and 

 climb. One must retire early and rise early. Sleep should be lim- 

 ited to six or seven hours. Every day a bath should be taken or the 

 body be well rubbed. The water employed for this may be cold or 

 warm according to individual temperament. Sometimes warm and 

 cold water may be alternately employed. Regular work and intel- 

 lectual occupation are indispensable. The mental attitude should be 

 that of enjoyment of living, tranquillity of mind, and a hopeful con- 

 ception of life. On the other hand, the passions and nervous disturb- 

 ances of sorrow should be combatted. Finally, one should have a firm 

 determination that will compel the preservation of health, the avoid- 

 ance of alcoholic liquors and other stimulants as well as narcotics and 

 analgesic substances." 



These counsels are certainly very useful to follow, but very fre- 

 (juentl}^ they are insufficient for the attainment of a normal old age. 

 Many very sober persons, not addicted to alcoholism nor any other 

 excess, contract chronic maladies of the kidneys, of the blood vessels, 

 of the digestive organs, and of the nervous system which result in 

 premature and most painful old age. 



Empirical rules, even Avhen dictated by the widest experience, can 

 not, then, suffice to solve the problem, and we must seek the aid of 

 science in order to obtain an effective result. The scientific study of 

 old age is therefore indispensable. In order to make this studv pos- 

 sible, we must, first of all, lun^e material upon wliich to work': tliat is 

 to say, old people, and, indeed, many old people. The opinion that 



