



vii THE STAGES OF LIFE AND DEATH 305 



found in any other organ. None of the alterations which we have 

 enumerated can be regarded as pathologically indicative of 

 senility : many of them are directly or indirectly connected with 

 arteriosclerosis, a disease which, whilst very common in old 

 people, is not exclusively a sign of senile physiological involution. 

 Certain other alterations are probably directly connected with 



FIG. 124. Miliary necrosis (senile patch) of the cerebral cortex of an old man, aged 102 years, 

 highly magnified, treated according to Bielschowsky's method. In the centre a degenerate 

 mass is seen, surrounded by a ring of thickened material. (From a preparation by Dr. Perusini.) 



senile involution, especially the processes of simple atrophy of the 

 histological elements, but even this class of change is not in itself 

 a specific proof of senility. 



The recent researches of Alzheimer, Simchowicz, Fischer, and 

 more particularly the investigators of the Eonian school, Cerletti, 

 Perusini, and Bonfiglio, have pointed out a number of alterations 

 characteristic of senile involution. Amongst these changes we 

 find several which may be regarded as indicative of senility 



VOL. v x 



