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changed in appearance—a change not easily described in words, beyond mere softening.

This matter of the brain and nerves is the seat of feeling and all the senses, the channel of the will and motory power, the mysterious depository of all that is stored in the memory, and probably the agent in all the mental faculties.

Mental diseases in their multitudinous forms, paralysis (frequent in aged persons), obtuseness of the senses, taste, hearing, sight, smell, follow molecular changes in nerve matter (nervine).

Such being the condition of the system in advanced life as to its materials, we can readily understand how overt disease may speedily arise in the several organs, appearing to be spontaneous, and how readily disease may be excited by external agents.

On the one hand, some one or more organs will exhibit signs of degeneracy, morbid feebleness, sluggish action, partial or complete loss of power, softening, or other change of texture, failure of their functions. This is popularly termed decay.

On the other hand, susceptibility to morbid influences from without, predisposition to suffer

from changes of temperature-particularly cold, to impressions when exposed to even weak poisons, to temporary fatigue or privation; all these and the like are explicable on the above physiological grounds.

Our state in advanced life may be regarded as analogous to and classed with diatheses, i.e., special tendencies, or predispositions, such as we meet with and recognise in every stage of existence : a liability to some one form of disease rather than to others.

It may not appear very scientific or precise to speak of age, as to its internal characteristics, as a diathesis; but this is the nearest approach to a correct definition for the purpose of comparison we can reach. And something is always gained when we can arrange any set of phenomena under a general head or principle. The RegistrarGeneral groups together certain states, or rather diseases, under the generic term diathetic.

The general idea being of a latent subtle condition of the system (diathesis), when occasional causes produce peculiar trains of symptoms, and modify ordinary diseases.

We may therefore safely speak of the senile diathesis, and this simple name may not be barren of results, considering the influence of words upon our inquiries and conclusions.

What of the indwelling life itself? How is this affected by lapse of time? It has been supposed that a certain amount is implanted at birth, which is lessened or enfeebled in age, and at length is worn out and extinguished. The vital lamp is a favourite metaphor; and life is assumed to end as a lamp goes out, for lack of fuel. It must be remembered that this is figurative, and we must not push such analogies too far. It is true there is a limited duration to every organized body-a time when its life ceases; but it would seem to be its teguments, and envelop which weaken and decay; to this the law of extinction in time applies rather than to the vital principle itself. Hence, as we have already noticed, few persons die of simple old age; and the vital, as distinguished from muscular or molecular force, is very often observed to be very vigorous in old people. The idea of enfeebled vital power need not in any degree lessen our efforts to prolong life.

Delicacy of constitution, and sickliness in childhood and youth, and even extending into middle age, do not in all cases prevent the attainment of longevity. In reading the memoirs of distinguished individuals who have lived to a good old age, it is very common to find it stated that they were remarkably feeble children. The late Mr. S. Rogers, the poet, said he never knew what health was until he had attained his 50th year.

THE MEANS OF AMELIORATING AND RETARDING THE EFFECTS OF AGE.

The first item of advice we would offer to persons who have passed the meridian of life is, if possible to secure for themselves mental tranquillity. The secular business of life, if it has been mainly employed, as it is with most of us, in obtaining the means of living and provision for ourselves and families, ought to be over as soon as enough has been acquired to satisfy reasonable wants and desires, to secure contentment and quiet so far as worldly possessions can give them. If with an adequate fortune some object of ambition has

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been pursued, with age should come a calm

retrospect and estimate of its worth. It is happy for a man who reaches this goal at the age of 50, or earlier. At 60, or as soon after as possible, our desires should be adjusted to our attainments and means, by modifying the former rather than attempting to better the latter by hazardous or even by legitimate enterprises. At least, all mental anxiety or disquietude should be carefully avoided. In this country, indeed, there are very many persons who never have any grounds for an anxious thought. Born to fortune and exempt from ambition, they are nevertheless subjected to the common lot of humanity, beset by troubles of another kind, some real, some imaginary. It is not the idle and listless who, in any marked measure, enjoy the blessing of longevity. Wholesome occupation and moderate means are most favourable to long life, which, as we have before remarked, attaches to the clergy, and to the female sex pre-eminently.

This fact teaches us the next lesson, namely, that sobriety is most congenial to health and life. Experience fails to support the pretensions of

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