OIL LIX.] DEATH 895 



creatine; there is some evidence that the creatine is associated in 

 some way with the metabolism of the mammary gland. 



The atrophy or involution of the uterus which occurs at the 

 menopause appears also to be produced in the same way, and it has 

 been suggested, with some reason, that the symptoms exhibited at 

 that period of life may be in part explained as due to the absorption 

 of the products of the autolysis of the uterine tissue. 



DEATH 



We have now completed the task we set ourselves, and having 

 arrived at the new-born child have reached the point in the life 

 cycle from which we set out. The bearers and transmitters of the 

 germ plasm, its hosts, the parents, pass away in due course, making 

 room for their successors who live, repeat the process, and likewise 

 die in their turn. 



It is not altogether inappropriate to conclude a book which deals 

 with life, by a few sentences on Death, which forms the final chapter 

 for each individual. As the prime of life is past, signs of old age 

 begin to appear, the eyes become feeble, the hair becomes grey, the 

 cartilages calcify, the muscles become weaker, digestion gets feebler, 

 and metabolism in every way more and more imperfect. If this 

 continues, life is ultimately terminated by natural death, in which 

 the functions get weaker and weaker and finally cease. Death from 

 old age is, however, comparatively rare ; the common cause of death is 

 accident, in which term we include disease. In the activity of youth 

 many a disease is vanquished, but as the powers of resistance 

 diminish with increasing years, some ailment usually upsetting more 

 particularly some important organ will ultimately find the body 

 unable to repel its attack. 



" That ends this strange, eventful history." 



COMPLIMENTS 



OF 



F. Boston's Son Co, 



, Pi 



