“GO SLOW AFTER FIFTY.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1108, 12 June 1913, Page 4

“GO SLOW AFTER FIFTY.”

DEATH RATE INCREASES AT 55. WHEN TO DO LESS WORK. On the question of why we grow old, discussed recently in Lopdon in connection with the inquiry being carried out by Dr Andrewes, pathologist to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, on arterial decay, a doctor says : —■ “It is very important for men to recognise that the danger period is from the age of fifty or fiftyfive onwards. Up to fifty the arteries respond fairly well to the stress of ordinary life ; but about that age a man must ease off decidedly, or he will find himself going quickly downhill. This warning applies not only to physical but also to mental wotk. “There are some exceptionally sound men over fifty-five who can do a day’s hunting or shooting or work their brains at high pressure for eight or ten hours a day without apparent hurt; and there are also men who can eat and drink as freely at this age as when in full vigour. Probably they shorten their lives by a few years. The vast majority of men certainly cannot act in this way without bad consequences.

one-fourth eess work. “At fifty a man should begin to go slow in every way ; he should dress more leisurely, eat less, reduce his ordinary work by twenty-five per cent., and never, in any circumstances, make an extraordinary effort, physical or mental.” Dr Andrewes’ inquiry has been made because of the disquietingfact that the mortality among men over fifty-five has increased during the past half-century. At all ages under forty-five there has been a vast improvement. The following figures, giving the percentage increase or decrease in mortality per thousand at each age period between the years 18411845 and 1906-1910, show that men over fifty-five are dying in greater numbers : 55'65 ••• 9 per cent, increase. 65-75 ••• 8 per cent, increase. 75-85 ... 4 per cent, decrease. 85 and over 2 per cent. in. Women apparently are not affected by the strain of modern life. Their deathrate shows improvement at all ages under eighty-five.