Chapter II: Preface: ──

WHOEVER takes up this book with the idea that the aged can be transformed into sprightly adolescents will be disappointed. A work based entirely on evidence of a scientific nature, as is the present volume, cannot have such an end in view, since it is altogether unattainable—at least with what knowledge is now available.

But while it is still impossible for us to create a young man out of an old one, it is quite within the bounds of possibility, as we shall endeavor to demonstrate herein, to prolong our term of youthfulness by ten or twenty years. In other words we need no longer grow old at forty or fifty; we may live to the age of ninety or one hundred years, instead of dying at sixty or seventy. All this can be brought about by the observance of certain hygienic measures, and by improving the functions of a certain few of the glandular structures in our body, provided incurable organic disorders have not already too gravely compromised one or more of our main organs.

In a communication to the Paris Biological Society, presented in our name by Dr. Gley, Professor of Physiology at the University of Paris, and in an address delivered before the Brussels Royal Society of Medical and Natural Sciences, we described old age as a chronic disease due to degeneration of the glands with internal secretions (hereinafter frequently referred to as the ductless glands), of the thyroid, the sexual glands, and the adrenals in particular. In this work we will show that this degeneration is amenable to treatment, just as are chronic diseases in general.

The facts herein presented are illustrated and sustained by numerous experimental and clinical observations. Being desirous of proving the correctness of all our statements, we have had to enter, sometimes very fully, into the question of the ductless glands, in order to point out the marvelous influence they exert upon the various vital functions.

In view of the fact that the ductless glands have already been treated in a very elaborate and exhaustive manner by a well-known American author, Professor C. E. de M. Sajous, of Philadelphia, in his work on the “Internal Secretions” (2 volumes) which introduces many new thoughts and important discoveries, we have paid particular attention to the thyroid and sexual glands, which we have carefully studied anatomically, histologically, experimentally and clinically.

Not being a native of, or even resident in, either America or England, though possessed of a fair knowledge of the English language—having delivered addresses in several universities, and before numerous medical societies in the United States, Canada, England, and Scotland—it was very difficult for us to avoid idiomatic errors. We take great pleasure in acknowledging, therefore, our indebtedness to our friend, Col. Frank Haddan, of London, who, being impressed with the importance of our subject and its humanitarian aspect, kindly volunteered to look through our manuscript and correct most of our errors of style and grammar, thereby rendering us valuable assistance. Our thanks are also due to Dr. Leo Rosenthal, of New York, for the adjustment of many technical sentences.

Every one will admit that the subject treated in this work is not an easy one. It might be urged also that its presentation here is based on entirely novel lines, scientific literature on old age being very scarce.

Considering also that it has been necessary for us to take up questions beyond the ordinary sphere of a medical practitioner, sometimes of a philosophical, technical and physical nature, it is to be expected that certain imperfections will be found. But, whatever may be the opinion of the reader, he will not deny that none should fail to derive some benefit from the numerous hints we have given for the preservation of health and prolongation of life. If by reason of our advice we succeed in saving but a single human life from a premature grave, our aim will have been attained.

DR. ARNOLD LORAND.

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CONTENTS.
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CHAPTER I.

PAGE

ON THE APPEARANCE OF SYMPTOMS OF OLD AGE IN YOUNG 1
PERSONS

CHAPTER II.

ON THE AGENCIES WHICH GOVERN OUR EXTERNAL 11
APPEARANCE AND THE NUTRITION OF THE TISSUES

CHAPTER III.

ON THE AGENCIES WHICH GOVERN IMMUNITY AGAINST 21
INFECTIONS AND INTOXICATIONS—THE ORIGIN OF FEVER

CHAPTER IV.

ON THE AGENCIES THAT GOVERN THE CONDITION OF THE 35
NERVOUS SYSTEM AND MENTALITY

CHAPTER V.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE SEXUAL GLANDS UPON 45
VITALITY AND LONG LIFE

CHAPTER VI.

ON HEREDITY AND LONGEVITY 55

CHAPTER VII.

ON MEANS WHICH CAN HELP US TO DETERMINE THE 64
PROBABLE DURATION OF LIFE

CHAPTER VIII.

ON THE CAUSATION OF OLD AGE 90

CHAPTER IX.

THE RATIONAL PREVENTION OF PREMATURE OLD AGE AND 114
THE TREATMENT OF OLD AGE

CHAPTER X.

THE DESTRUCTION AND ELIMINATION OF TOXIC PRODUCTS 134
FROM THE BODY AND HYGIENIC MEASURES FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT OF THESE FUNCTIONS

CHAPTER XI.

ON THE DESTRUCTION OF POISONOUS PRODUCTS THROUGH 138
THE THYROID AND PARATHYROID GLANDS

CHAPTER XII.

HYGIENE OF THE THYROID GLAND 145

CHAPTER XIII.

THE DESTRUCTION OF TOXIC PRODUCTS BY THE LIVER AND 149
THE IMPROVEMENT OF ITS PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS

CHAPTER XIV.

THE HYGIENE OF THE LIVER 155

CHAPTER XV.

ON THE DESTRUCTION OF TOXIC PRODUCTS BY THE 159
ADRENALS

CHAPTER XVI.

HYGIENE OF THE ADRENALS AND OF THE CIRCULATORY 164
SYSTEM—A FEW REMARKS ON THE CAUSE, PREVENTION,
AND TREATMENT OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

CHAPTER XVII.

THE ELIMINATION OF TOXIC PRODUCTS THROUGH THE 170
INTESTINES AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THIS FUNCTION

CHAPTER XVIII.

ON THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF HABITUAL 175
CONSTIPATION

CHAPTER XIX.

HYGIENE OF THE INTESTINES 182

CHAPTER XX.

HYGIENE OF THE INTESTINES—A FEW REMARKS ON THE 192
CAUSE AND PREVENTION OF APPENDICITIS

CHAPTER XXI.

ON THE ELIMINATION OF TOXIC PRODUCTS THROUGH THE 197
KIDNEYS

CHAPTER XXII.

HYGIENE OF THE KIDNEYS, AND THE PREVENTION OF 203
RENAL DISEASE

CHAPTER XXIII.

ON THE ELIMINATION OF TOXIC PRODUCTS THROUGH THE 209
SKIN

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE HYGIENE OF THE SKIN—AIR BATHS 215

CHAPTER XXV.

ON RATIONAL CLOTHING 219

CHAPTER XXVI.

IMPROVED HYGIENE OF THE SKIN AND KIDNEYS THROUGH 231
BATHING—FOOT-BATHS

CHAPTER XXVII.

HYGIENE OF THE SKIN AND KIDNEYS BY MEANS OF 237
PERSPIRATION

CHAPTER XXVIII.

ON EXERCISE, SWEDISH GYMNASTICS—MASSAGE—SPORT, AND 244
WALKING AND RUNNING EXERCISE

CHAPTER XXIX.

A FEW REMARKS ON COLD FEET—THEIR CAUSE AND 252
TREATMENT

CHAPTER XXX.

ON THE BENEFITS OF SUNLIGHT 255

CHAPTER XXXI.

ON THE ADVANTAGES OF AN OPEN AIR LIFE AND OF 262
BREATHING EXERCISES

CHAPTER XXXII.

ON THE DANGERS OF LIVING IN CONFINED AND 271
ILL-VENTILATED QUARTERS

CHAPTER XXXIII.

HYGIENE OF ARTIFICIAL HEATING—THE DANGERS OF HEAT 275
BY STEAM AND A FEW HINTS ABOUT THEIR PREVENTION

CHAPTER XXXIV.

FOOD HYGIENE—GENERAL REMARKS 280

CHAPTER XXXV.

ON PROTEID FOOD, ANIMAL FOOD, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, 294
MILK, ETC.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

ON CARBOHYDRATES AND FATS, AND THE GREAT 301
ADVANTAGES OF VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

CHAPTER XXXVII.

ON THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A 309
VEGETARIAN DIET

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

ON THE DANGERS OF A TOO ABUNDANT MEAT DIET—A FEW 317
HINTS ON THE DIETETICS OF MEAT

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ON THE GREAT ADVANTAGES OF MUCH MILK IN THE DIET 325
FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OLD AGE

CHAPTER XL.

ON BLOOD AS AN ARTICLE OF FOOD CONTAINING IRON AND 333
ANIMAL EXTRACTS—SAUSAGES AND BLOOD PUDDINGS

CHAPTER XLI.

SOME REMARKS ON THE HYGIENE OF EATING—HOW TO 339
OBTAIN AN APPETITE—ON MASTICATION

CHAPTER XLII.

ON THE USES OF SMALL DOSES, AND THE DELETERIOUS 347
ACTION OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF ALCOHOL

CHAPTER XLIII.

SOME REMARKS ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF THE 356
ALCOHOL HABIT

CHAPTER XLIV.

ON OTHER STIMULANTS—TEA, COFFEE, COCOA, TOBACCO: 362
THEIR MERITS AND DISADVANTAGES

CHAPTER XLV.

ON SLEEP, AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN RIDDING THE BODY 368
OF TOXIC PRODUCTS

CHAPTER XLVI.

ON THE CAUSATION OF SLEEP, SLEEPINESS, AND 372
INSOMNIA

CHAPTER XLVII.

HYGIENE OF SLEEP—PREVENTION OF INSOMNIA 377

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE TREATMENT OF SLEEPINESS AND INSOMNIA 383

CHAPTER XLIX.

HYGIENE OF THE SEXUAL GLANDS—THE DANGERS OF SEXUAL 389
OVERACTIVITY AND OF TOTAL SEXUAL ABSTINENCE

CHAPTER L.

ON MARRIED LIFE AS AN IMPORTANT MEANS FOR 400
PROLONGING LIFE

CHAPTER LI.

HYGIENE OF THE MIND—EMOTIONS AND WORRY AS CAUSES 404
OF OLD AGE

CHAPTER LII.

HYGIENE OF THE MIND—RELIGIOUS BELIEF AS A MEANS OF 414
PROLONGING LIFE

CHAPTER LIII.

DISEASE CONSIDERED AS A SELF-DEFENCE OF NATURE 419

CHAPTER LIV.

HYGIENE OF THE MIND—ADVICE TO BRAIN WORKERS 423

CHAPTER LV.

ON THE PREVENTION OF PREMATURE OLD AGE, AND THE 426
TREATMENT OF OLD AGE, THROUGH CERTAIN DRUGS:
ARSENIC, IRON, AND IODIDES

CHAPTER LVI.

ON THE PREVENTION OF PREMATURE OLD AGE AND ON THE 434
TREATMENT OF OLD AGE BY ANIMAL EXTRACTS

CHAPTER LVII.

A FEW HINTS ON YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE 449