THE LAMP BURNS LOW.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1920, Page 6

THE LAMP BURNS LOW.

SECRET OF YOUTH. GLAND TREATMENT EXAMINED. A recent cablegram referred to the experience of the well-known actress Miss Connie Ediss, who, after undergoing thyroid gland treatment, stated that "she did not feel anything like 50," but wanted to climb trees "like

a monkey." When asked by an Age representative in regard to recent reported medical experiments, Professor W, A. Oai borne, professor of physiology at Mel--1 bourne University, stated that the idea ' of rejuvenescence by medication with "land substance was by no means new. In ISB9 Dr. Brown-Scquard had electrified medical science by announcing that the old and decrepit could regain youthful vigor through the injection of certain body glands. "This," said Professor Osborne, "led to a good deal of experimentation, but the contention was not borne out. Recently an attempt has been made to use thyroid medication on grafting .for strengthening and invigorating elderly people; but the genactive or under active, and also in those conditions, which have just recently been recognised, when it is in an unconditions that arise when it' is overeral theory of thyroid action is "against such a procedure. We know of the importance of the thyroid through the stable state—sometimes over-acting and sometimes under-acting. Undoubtedly when the thyroid gland is underactive the administration of thyroid extract can do wonders. This has been one of the veritable triumphs of modern medicine; but there are certain disabilities attached to its indiscriminate use. The administration of tiiyi )id extract on the over-wor'c'n * of the gland itself acts like a forced draught on the vital processes of the body. Therefore any iiivigoiatbi tint' occasioned, in an eiucly person would simply resemble 'a temporary increase in the brilliance of a lamp with an exhausted oil supply when the wick is turned I up" Dealing with the general human desire' for a means of rejuvenation, Professor Osborne pointed out that the theory of rejuvenescence must naturally be bound up with the theory of senescence. The Russian scientist, Metchinkoff} had introduced the view that the decline in the powers of old age was the consequence of a form of poisoning, as it possessed many ] characteristics similar to those following upon the prolonged action of certain well-known constitutional poisons. But this hypothesis had itycen given its onietus by modern pathologV, especially at the hands of Dr. Adami. formerly of Montreal and now of Liverpool. Senescence appeared to be an inherent property of life—at least, of all the higher forms of life. In different parts of the body it varied. "Some organs, indeed." added the professor, "such as the crystalline lens of the eye. may be said to begin to age almost directly after birth. In others there is a rise in efficiency; then, as it were, a plateau, and then follows the inevitable decline. Until the secret of life itself is discovered we need hardly hope to obtain the secret and cure of senility." The amount of research work now being carried out in connection with the various "ductless glands" of the human body was enormous, hut he feared that only a small proportion of it was of permanent value. A regular quarterly journal is now published, devoted entirely to the science of these glands, and in its pages the thyroid gland receives a very large share of attention. But it would seem that the elixir of ; lift i» still to bi sought afar *|