114 ENDOCRINE THERAPEUTICS 



salvation, in which the endocrine failure may be 

 restored or at the worst arrested. Think of the 

 long, silent tragedy of a paralysed life or of brain 

 softening ; think of the loss to the world of all 

 that stored wisdom. Healthy old age may be 

 lacking in initiative and possibly in pluck, but it is 

 a very good adviser ; it is not generally in a hurry, 

 and if it accomplish little, it may serve a very use- 

 ful purpose as a brake on the facilis descensus. 



What is old age ? Surely not a question of 

 years alone. Why is one man played out, 

 spiritless and inefficient, at 60, while another 

 at 80 or 90 is full of interest in life and of good 

 judgment ? One may say it is due to the sort 

 of life he has led, but in many cases there is no 

 such reason that will bear investigation. Perhaps 

 more justly it may be said to be due to the 

 life and qualities that he inherits. One will say 

 that old age is degeneration of tissues, of muscles 

 and brain substance, but this is only stating an 

 accomplished fact ; it evades causes and origins. 

 Degeneration is probably in great measure the 

 end result of metabolic imperfection ; combustion, 

 the ever- active maintainer of life, and the clearing 

 out of used-up material go no longer hand in hand : 

 the machine, getting clogged with grit, runs no 

 more smoothly, and begins to show signs of wear. 



