THE PROBLEM 27 



changes in the body. These changes in the structure of 

 different organs and parts of the body, and in their man- 

 ner of functioning constitute the material basis of what is 

 called senescence or growing old. Some of the morpho- 

 logical and physiological changes which characterize ex- 

 treme senescence are apparent and known to all. Such 

 are in ease of man the bent posture which means an altered 

 position and fusion of the elements of the vertebral 

 column, the wrinkled visage, which denotes a profound al- 

 teration of tissue elements, and the shuffling and uncer- 

 tain gait, which bespeaks a failing motor coordination. 

 In Figure 1 these senescent changes are all well indicated 

 in the case of an old man who has received much news- 

 paper notice, "Uncle" John Shell of Kentucky, who is 

 here shown with his last wife and supposed son. This 

 poor old man has been exhibited about that part of the 

 country as "the oldest living human being," at a claimed 

 age of 131 years. As a matter of fact, Nascher, who has 

 made a careful investigation of the case, finds him to be 

 "about one hundred years old, possibly a year younger 

 or older. ' ' The paternity of the 4% year old boy, though 

 claimed by Shell, is in considerable doubt. 



Beside these obvious senescent changes there are 

 going on even more significant changes in the cellular ele- 

 ments which compose the body. Certain of these cellular 

 changes of age were described in a series of Lowell lec- 

 tures given a little more than a decade ago by the late 

 Dr. Charles Sedgwick Minot. Over a quarter of a cen- 

 tury ago Hodge made a careful study of senile changes in 

 nerve cells. In a man dying naturally at 92 years of age 

 he found marked changes in the cells of the spinal ganglia 

 as compared with those of a new bom babe. The chief 

 differences are exhibited in Table 3. 



