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SOME MEDICAL ASPECTS

OF OLD AGE




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  SOME MEDICAL ASPECTS
  OF OLD AGE

  BEING THE LINACRE LECTURE, 1922,
  ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

  BY

  SIR HUMPHRY ROLLESTON, K.C.B.
  M.D., D.C.L., LL.D.
  PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON
  EMERITUS PHYSICIAN, ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL
  SOMETIME FELLOW OF ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

  MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
  ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON
  1922




  COPYRIGHT

  PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN.




PREFACE


The material in this small volume was collected in connexion with
the Linacre Lecture at St. John’s College, Cambridge, and has been
somewhat expanded since its delivery on 6th May 1922. The introduction
is chiefly of local interest in connexion with the history of the
Linacre Lecture. Without attempting a complete account of old age and
its diseases I have passed in review some ancient and modern medical
aspects of this subject, but, except for incidental references, medical
treatment has not been considered.

For ready help, especially as regards the illustrations, my cordial
thanks are due to C. J. S. Thompson, Esq., M.B.E., of the Wellcome
Historical Museum, and for the index I am much indebted to H. M.
Barlow, Esq., Assistant Librarian of the Royal College of Physicians of
London.

            H. R.




CONTENTS


                                                                    PAGE
     I. INTRODUCTION                                                   1

    II. DURATION OF LIFE                                               9

   III. ONSET OF OLD AGE                                              26

    IV. FACTORS INFLUENCING LONGEVITY                                 32

     V. CAUSES OF SEN