i ;l!ii OLD AGE Its Cause and Prevention ^#^" 0St^ ArSANFORD BENNE ' •; TBE MANMO GREWYOUNG.ii CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BEQUEST OF STEWART HENRY BURNHAM 1943 ^iBiiiliSniiiitBiiifftVf.S.,^"'* prevention oiin.anx 3 1924 031 232 105 The original of tliis bool< is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031232105 SANFORD BENNETT AT SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OF AGE SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., JANUARY 4th, 1912 SANFORD BENNETT AT FIFTY YEARS OF AGE SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., JUNE 8th, 1889 ; I ALL MUSCLES AND ALL ORGANS INCREASE IN SIZE, STRENGTH AND ELASTICITY WHEN PROPERLY HXEHCISED. THIS IS THE PRINCIPAL SECRET OP HEALTH, STRENGTH, ELASTICITY OF BODY, AND A LONG IJPB OLD AGE ITS CAUSE AND PREVENTION THE STORY OF AN OLD BODY AND FACE MADE YOUNG By SANFORD ^ENNETT "the man who GREW YOUNG AT SEVENTY** AUTHOR OF "exercising IN BED" Tompkins Count y Library --^ Ithaca, N. Y. I PtTBLISHED BY I The Physical Culture Publishing Co. NEW YORK CITY, U. S. A. Wlk COFTBIGHTED, 1912. BT SANFORD BENNETT The Physical Culture Publishing Company New York City, U. S. A. i dedicate this book to my daughter, my first pupil in the greatest of all sciences: the science of HEALTH Contents PAGE From 1841 to 1912 17 Why I Have Written This Book . . ■. '. £8 Clinical Reports of Dr. Carl Renz, San Francisco, Cal., February 5th, 1895; April 1st, 1906; February 15th, 1912 42 Old Age — Its Cause and Prevention 49 The Will in Exercising 60 Exercising in Bed 75 Thirty Exercises (Illustrated) 82 Things to Be Remembered 89 Sunlight and Fresh Air vs. Consumption 106 The Fasting Cure 122 The Secret of Good Digestion 137 Dyspepsia 146 How I Strengthened My Eyes 150 The Liver 154 Deep Breathing Exercise for the Development of the Lungs 163 Internal Cleanliness 168 External Cleanliness 170 Rheumatism 174 Varicose Veins in the Legs; The Cause and Cure 178 Concerning Various Methods Proposed to Defer Old Age 183 The Subconscious Mind; Its Influence Upon the Body; Why and How I Think Christian Science Cures , 209 The Duration of Human Life 218 The Hair 229 PAGE ThetBeduction of an Obese Abdomen 237 Exercises for the Reduction of an Obese Abdomen 241 The Rejuvenation of the Face, Throat and Neck 243 Developing the Muscles of the Chin and Jaws 253 The Muscles of the Cheeks 2i35 The Metal Face Mask. Designed for Softening the Skin and Im- proving the Complexion 203 : Exercise for Developing the Cheeks 272 ; for the Muscles of the Chin * 274 Rapid Development of the Supporting Muscles of the Cheeks 277 The Lines of Age 281 The Muscles of the Throat 285 Exercising the Throat Muscles 293 Ninon de L'Enclos, "The Woman Who Never Grew Old" 298 Developing the Muscles of the Neck and Abdominal Muscles 305 The Skin , 307 Exercising the Muscles Which Cover the Shoulder Blades 313 Exercise for the Development of the Throat Muscles 315 The Neck 317 Neck Exercises , 320 Developing the Sides of the Neck 322 Dumb-bell Exercise for Two Hands 325 Dumb-bell Exercise, With Massage of the Upper Arm 328 Stretching Board Device for Broadening the Shoulders 331 Exercise for Broadening the Shoulders 335 Exercise for Developing the Shoulder-Blade Muscles 337 Development of the Legs, With Lifting Device 339 Development of the Calves of the Legs by Resistance Exercises .... 344 Exercise for Strengthening the Loins 346 Exercise for Strengthening the Lower Abdominal Muscles- 349 Exercise for Strengthening the Sides and Loins 353 Tensing Exercise for the Whole Body 355 V' PAGE Resistance Exercise for the Back and Loins — Number 1 358 Resistance Exercise for the Back and Loins — Number 2 359 Exercises for the Back and Shoulder Muscles 361 Resistance Exercise for the Forearm — Number 1 363 Resistance Exercise for the Arms — Number 2 365 Resistance for the Arms — Number 3 367 Exercise for Developing Back Muscles of Arms 369 Exercise for the Hips and Loins 371 Percussion Exercise for Strengthening the Abdominal Muscles, and Improving the Digestion 373 Bar Exercise — Number 1 376 Bar Exercise— Nimber 2 379 The Lifting Board 381 To a "Good Sport" 383 In Conclusion 387 As to Questions That May Arise 392 ni Illustrations PACING PAGE SANFORD BENNETT— At 72 and at 50 .*. Froniispieoe Sanford Bennett— PrqAle at 72 27 Full-length Portrait, Showing General Development 34 Development of Shoulders and Back 38 Development of Shoulders and Biceps , 39 Full Length; Side View, Showing General Development 48 Chest Development — Front View 51 Result of Exercising the Muscles of the Back 74 A Young, Successful Disciple of This System of Physical Culture 81 Anatomical Plate — Muscles of the Human Body ; Back View 87 Anatomical Plate — Muscles of the Upper Arm 88 Illustrations of 30 Exercises — All Practiced While Lying in BoJ 91-105 The Liver — First Exercise 156 The Liver — Second Exercise 15S The Liver— Third Exercise 160 The Result of Deep Breathing 162 Organs of Digestion — Anatomical Plate 167 Uric Acid Crystals 173 Anatomical Plate — Valves of the Veins 176 Anatomical Plate — ^Varicose Veins 177 Cross Section of Skin — Showing Hair-shaft, Etc 228 The Flabby Cheeks of Old Age 242 Anatomical Plate — Muscles Surrounding the Eyes 251 Anatomical Plate — Muscles of the Throat Relaxed 252 Face Mask — Showing How Attached to the Face 262 ix FACING PAGE Face Mask with Electric Battery 263 Rapid Development of the Supporting Muscles of the Cheeks — July 5th and October 26th, 1909 S76-277 The Smooth Face of Youth 279 The Lines of Age 280 The Thi-oat of Youth 286 The Throat of Age 287 Anatomical Plate — Muscles of the Throat, Head Thrown Back. . . . 292 Developing Muscles of the Throat 294 The Result of Throat and Neck Exercises 296 Ninon de L'Enclos, at Age of 70 300 Exercising the Back of the Neck and Abdominal Muscles 304 Development of Neck Muscles at Age 67 306 Exercising Shoulder Blade Muscles 312 Developing the Throat Muscles 314 Anatomical Plate — Back, Neck and Arms , 316 Exercising the Back Muscles of the Neck by Tension Exercise .... 319 Exercising the Side Muscles of the Neck '. 321 Dumb-bell Exercise— No. 1 324 Dumb-bell Exercise With Massage of the Upper Arm — No. 2 327 The Shoulder Stretching Board 330 Broadening the Shoulders 334 Exercising Shoulder Muscles 336 Developing the Climbing Muscles, With Lifting De^dce 338 Developing the Chmbing Muscles, by Resistance Exercise 343 Developing the Loin Muscles 345 Developing the Lower Abdominal Muscles 348 Exercising Muscles of the Sides 352 Developing the Whole Body by Tension 354 Exercising the Back and Loins — First Exercise 367 Exercising the Back and Loins — Second Exercise 360 Developing the Fore- Arms by Resistance 362 X FACING PAGE Developing Arms by Resistance 364 Arm Twisting Exercise 366 Exercising Back Muscles of the Arms 368 Hip and Loin Exercise 370 Strengthening the Abdominal Muscles by Percussion 372 Bar Exercise — No. 1 375 Bar Exercise— No. 2 378 The Lifting Board 380 My Hill Chums— "Out for a Quail Shoot" 385 "Buena Vista," Home of Sanford Bennett 386 I Move We Adjourn 391 From 1841 to 1912 ALL statements presented in this book are based upon my successful personal ex- periences in the art of physical rejuvena- tion in advanced years, and this success is the result bf long and persistent investigation of the causes of physical old age and the practice of Nature's methods for its prevention. These investigations, combined with twenty-five years of experiments upon my own body, have taught me how to postpone that unpleasant condition. I am not theorizing or writing the experiences of some one else, but verify the truth of my statements by my own youthful physical con- dition at seventy -two. If my case was simply one of physical preservation in advanced years, other instances would be cited equally unusual, but rnine is not a case of physical preservation. It is one of physical acquisition or of acquiring the elasticity, strength and health character- istic of youth "at three score and ten," an age when such improvement has hitherto been supposed to be impqssible. At fifty I was physically an old man. Many years of a too active business career had re- sulted in a general break-down. I was then 17 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE wrinkled, partially bald, cheeks sunken, face drawn and haggard, muscles atrophied, and thirty years of chronic dyspepsia filially re- sulted in catarrh of the stomach, with acid rheumatism periodically adding its agonies. I was an old man and Ipoked it. It was the des- peration of my case which induced me to under- take these experiments. I have made many mistakes which it has required time to rectify, but the desire to live has impelled me to struggle on and finally I have succeeded. But the road to that success has not been easy, as lacking experienced guides, I had to pioneer my own way over a road that proved to be long and difficult. Another great obstacle was, that the customs of my short-lived family could not be readily abandoned. If any of us were sick we promptly "took something for it," something which we bought at a drug store. In my many sicknesses as a child I have had an intimate acquaintance with apparently most alleged medicinal remedies — ^anything my anx- ious relatives could think of, or an allopathic family physician advised. It is a depressing list to look back upon. It ranges from "Adams Calomel Pills" to "Zee- handlers World Renowned Fever and Ague Cure." But I think I have sampled them all. Naturally, I grew up with a firm belief that in medicines lay the only curative process, and I regarded drug stores as life-saving stations, 18 AND PREVENTION I remained in that belief until I had reached the age of fifty, and — broke down. The enu- meration of my physical woes at that age is a truthful statement of the conditions then exist- ing. And now in my seventy-second year I present the healthy conditions of an athlete in training and the appearance of a man of little more than half of my years. Under these conditions my success is too obvious to be overlooked. The fact is — unacceptable as it may be to the vast numbers of the medical profession, and also to the industries con- nected with it — ^I succeeded only after I had dis- continued all medicines. Health cannot be found in drug store prescriptions, nor can life be materially prolonged by any medical prepa- rations. The solution of the problem lies only in Nature's principal methods of inducing health — sunlight, pure air, pure water, nourish- ing food, cleanliness and exercise. Given these most important factors and an observance of what we know as the general laws of hygiene, health and a long life are possible, and usually very probable. But without these conditions, they are not obtainable and the long category of medicinal remedies with which the world has been afflicted will not replace such conditions. What I have accomplished is possible to almost any one who is not organically so wrong as to be hopeless. But to the average man or woman whose condition is simply that of 19 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE general physical deterioration, termed "old age," I extend this message of hope: Follow my example and success will be yours. I have been an old man, and now at over "three score and ten" I am a young man again, and look it. Really, I am now a younger man physically than I was in the best period oi my early manhood, say at thirty-five. In some respects, I seem to have accomplished the fabled miracle of Faust as to a considerable extent I have transformed an old body into a young one, and this without the aid of Faust's friend, or any supplies obtained from his ex- tremely popular medical departments. As I have said, I have been compelled to find the right path alone, for although I read extensively upon the matter of which I write, I never found a satisfactory guide book to the goal I sought; that is, one based upon the author's authenticated personal experiences. A part of the way is clearly shown by Lewis Cor^iaro, a Venetian nobleman who lived to the age of one hundred years, dying at Padua April 26th, 1566. The title of that book is, "Sure and Certain Methods of Attaining A Long and Healthy Life." But you will find the same dietetic rules more clearly explained in almost any health book, especially in Horace Fletcher's works. The point of interest is that the author, Lewis Cornaro, proved the tvuth of his statements by his own personal ex- 20 AND PREVENTION periences. And that is just what I have done, as I shall tell you how in this book. My state- ments of the methods by which I succeeded will therefore be of interest. I have found many well-authenticated cases of persons who have lived nearly to the limit of human life, that is, one hundred years; several who have reached that period, but no authenticated instance of any human being who, in advanced years (say after the age of fifty or sixty), had regained to any consid- erable degree the physical conditions and ap- pearance of youth. Counterfeits, yes, but like all counterfeits, detection finally resulted. "A man is as old as his arteries" is a well-worn truism, to which may be added, that woman is sometimes seeiningly as young as her ar- tifices would miake her appear. But that condition is unsatisfactory and easily detected by other women, who, as a rule, are usually experts in that direction. But when you be- come young by the methods I practice, you will pass muster under the most searching investigation. At least, that has been my ex- perience with the various clinical examinations of my body by the most able surgeon I could find. More superficial examinations by other interested scientists have also been frequently made, but always with the same result. My trouble now is, that while all who see me agree that I look but little more than half OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE my age, they express doubt that I am in my seventy-second year. There is httle difficulty in proving that I was born in Philadelphia, Pa., January 4th, 1841. Therefore, I reached my seventy-second birthday upon the fourth day of January, 1912. Furthermore, I have a kind of dubious war record, which is not difficult to verify, not a very brilliant one, I must admit, but I don't regret it. In 1861 I occupied for a time the position of bookkeeper and general clerk for the regimental sutler or storekeeper attached to the "Baxter Zouaves" regiment of Phila- delphia. We were stationed at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. That regiment participated in the disastrous battle of Ball's Bluff, fought across the river at that point. The date of that bloody action was October 21st, 1861. I probably saved my life by staying with the stores upon the safe side of the river. There- fore, I took no part in the fight and am glad I did not. We were all "three months' men," and when at the end of our term of service a lot of us were permitted to go home, I promptly availed myself of the chance, and went. In- cidentally, I would reniark that I would have gone sooner if I could. That is why, very probably, I have missed the glory upon Deco- ration Day, of being one of the nation's hon- ored dead. To the best of my recollection I was a battle-scarred veteran only to the extent of 23 AND PREVENTION my baggy red pants and silver-buttoned jacket. That is my war record. It has nothing to do with my system of physical rejuvenation, but verifies my age. I was then a young man of twenty-one and I occupied a responsible posi- tion which could not have been filled by a boy. The truth of my statement regarding my age being admitted, the next explanation of my physical rejuvenation, always advanced by out- siders, is that I must be abnormally endowed with the vital principle. This is also a mis- take. My father died of consumption at the age of forty-two, a nervous, dyspeptic man, always ailing, and always "taking something for it." But through it all, he was an energetic, successful business man; his goal, financial success; health, a secondary consideration; the result, death at forty-two. The same type of man you see everywhere in all large cities. I inherited my father's physical disabilities and also, to a great extent, his characteristics. With such hereditary tendencies I came into this life January 4th, 1841, a sickly little nervous shred of a child, whom no one ever expected to live through childhood, and to whom reaching maturity seemed an impos- sibility. But "there is a Divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will," and now at seventy-two, I realize that my mission in this life must be to' show others Nature's simple methods of health, and how by their observance .23 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE our stay here may be prolonged and lost physi- cal youth may be regained, this, at an age when such improvement has heretofore been supposed to be impossible. These were the unfavorable conditions of my feeble childhood, and throughout my boy- hood the haunting spectre of consumption was ever present. Following my father's example I engaged in mercantile pursuits, and the conduct of my business life was similar to his, similar to that of all high-pressure business men in this coun- try. Then at fifty, worried and worn out with the financial cares of a great mercantile in- dustry, suffering from lack of exercise, hurried meals and a "no-time-to-spare" Ufe, I col- lapsed. The brink of the precipice had been reached. A month's enforced rest gave me ample time to think over the discouraging sit- uation. Then I woke up to the realization that I was almost a subject for Osier's chloroform treatment. I decided to turn over a new leaf. What I did is set forth in this book. This summary of my life will dispose of the suggestion of favorable environment or favor- able physical antecedents. We are not a long- lived family, either upon my father's or mother's side. They have all long ago solved the great, mystery — ^father, mother, sister, brother, uncles and aunts all gone. Under these conditions my start in life iA AND PREVENTION cannot be said to l^ve been favorable. There is still another (jtuesl&jj to be answered. That is: Might not m% uim'^edented return to the conditions of youth bte a'^ase of atavism, that some one of my long T<^(i^en ancestors had been an instance of the ''<3^i^ phenomena I present? When at sixty I fotimld ■^at I was cer- tainly growing younger, that qt3festt V "^^^^^^^1 See Page 346. No. 3. Loin Muscles. 5 Movements Alternately See Page 373. No. 4. Percussion Abdominal Muscles. 5 Movements 92 See Page 335. No. 5. Shoulder Shrugging Exercise. 5 Movements See Page 313. No. 6. Shoulder Blade Muscles. 5 Movements on Each Side See Page 305. No. 7. Muscles of the Neck and Abdomen. 10 Movements See Page 320. No. 8. Resistance Exercise for Back of Neck. 5 Movements 94 See Page 295. No. 9. Muscles of the Throat. JO Movements 1 ^^K ■^1 ^H ^^^^^^^ . See Page 325. No. 10. Striking Exercise Either With or Withop', Dumb-bells 95 See Page 329. No. 11. Developing the Arms by Dumb-bell Movements with Massage See Page 157. No. 12. Massage of Liver Lying on Back. 10 Movements 96 See Page 315. No. 13. Development of the Throat Muscles. 10 Movements See Page 322. No. 14. Development of the Throat and Neck Muscles. 10 Movements 97 See Page 355. No. 15. Tensing Exercise for the Whole Body. 3 Movements See Page 353. No. 16. Muscles of the Sides. 10 Movements 98 See Page 337. No. 17. Muscles Covering the Shoulder Blades. 5 Movements. w '1f^ -i^^ 1 ■ ■ \^^^^^^^^^^^KIeJ*' jH ^P^^ IH^^H ^^^^lM ^ >^i E^^ ^ m ^^i^^^*^^^ 1 g See Page 371. No. 18. Hip and Loins. 5 Movements. See Page 363. No. 19. Resistance Fore Arm Exercise. 5 Movements See Page 369. No. 20. Resistance Triceps or Back Muscles of tlie Arms 10« See Page 358. No. 21. Single Arm Pulling Exercise for Shoulder ami Back oee Page 359. No. 22. Two Arm Pulling Exercise for Shoulders and Back. 5 Movements 101 See Page 159. No. 23. Massage of Liver Lying Upon Right Side. 10 Movements See Page 344. No. 24. Climbing Muscles of Legs. 10 Movements, Alternately 102 See Page 159. No. 25. Percussion of the Liver. 20 Light Blows See Pages 367. No. 26. Arm Twisting Exercise. 5 Movements 103 See Page 365. No. 27. Resistance Arm Exercise. 5 Movements 8 '^^^^^1 t:-'-'.!."- ^ ^ ^- ■ 1 :aB5. i . PREVENTION ditions, in the sunshine. Practice them sys- tematically and persistently and success will be yours. For the rest, eat such nourishing food as agrees with you. There is no set rule to a diet, as every stomach seems to have different requirements. Chew thoroughly each mouthful, as Horace Fletcher suggests; Bathe frequently. Keep the colon (the lower bowel) clean (see chapter upon internal cleanliness). Determine that you will get well and you will, if you follow my advice and stick to it. Hunt up some pleasant-mannered Christian Scientist practitioner and add his or her assurances of your recovery. As I have before stated, I am not a Christian Scientist, at least from a re- ligious standpoint, but I have great faith in it or any other harmless method which will inspire confidence, courage and hope, for these are the great factors of cure in all diseases. Your trusted family physician may do, if he will confine his medical prescriptions to bread pills or other harmless medical abracadabra, but to succeed, he must inspire confidence and carry out the simple but effective ; system I outline. Unfortunately, if trained in old school doctrines, he will be so thoroughly saturated with those antiquated teachings that, l|ke the chef who resigned from a highly -paid! -job rather than to cook without garlic, the worthy ^M.D. will probably abandon the 'case, declining to adopt the methods of a layman whose teachings, 119 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE according to his ideas, savor qf heresy. But I know what I am talking about. My father died of consumption at 42. I inherited his physical disabilities and throughout my sickly, feeble babyhood, boyhood and early manhood, every- one interested in me predicted that I would certainly go as my father did. And so I would had I followed the same antiquated fool methods and alleged medicinal remedies then practiced, and are to a great extent stUl in vogue with the medical profession. The unprecedented instance of my physicar improvement and rejuvenation at 72, after the unfavorable conditions under which my life commenced, is the best proof of the sanity of my methods and the benefits re- sultant therefrom. There is, however, one point upon which I heartily agree with the orthodox medical profession, and this is, that in a case of severe sickness you should at once engage a trained nurse, one knowing the laws of hygiene, understanding the use of sick-room conveniences, and versed in the gentle, helpful methods of modern, scientific nursing. If in your emergency you can find such a one who has the courage to practice her profession without the shadow of a drug store doctor's presence to interfere with her helpful ministrations, engage her at once, then hoist your flag and read your declar- ation of independence to the entire medical profession, which includes the sympathetic com- mission drug stores. As a starter in the new 120 AND PREVENTION order of things pull up the blinds of your sunless family vaults, the "guest chamber" and the equally depressing front parlor. This will give the sunshine a chance to destroy any germs of consumption which may be keeping house there. "But the flies will come in and the new carpet will be faded." Sure they will, but a new carpet will cost less than the doctor's bill and it is just possible you would rather have a sun- faded carpet than to have your neighbors gather in that sunless parlor or depressing guest chamber and say, "Poor dear, how natural he looks, and he had the best doctor and the best medicine that money could pro- cure." That is the way my father went. Don't go that way, try Nature's method. I have tried to make it clear and hope you will appreciate its value. ' 121 The Fasting Cure AS I have previously stated, the matter r\ I present in this book generally relates to my own experiences in the science of physical rejuvenation, giving in detail the simple means by which I have accomplished that for- tunate condition, but this chapter principally concerns the experiences of others who have more extensively experimented in the method of curing bodily ailments by "The Fasting Cure." The great success which has resulted in several cases practiced under my immediate obser- vation, as well also of many cases whose authen- ticity I have every reason to believe, has caused me to investigate the matter to the best of my ability. To this authenticated data, I have added my own personal, if limited, experiences of the benefits resulting from fasting for a few days only. Forty years ago I sang a great deal in public, a part of my income being derived from the concerts in which I appeared and the church choirs in which I was engaged. A bad cold, therefore, was not alone a physical incon- venience, but a financial loss, as in that con- dition I was unable to keep my musical en- 122 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE gagements, or if I did, appeared at a great disadvantage. In those days I implicitly be- lieved in the curative powers of medicines and had great faith in the old adage of "stuff a cold and starve a fever." Therefore, when I "caught cold" it always meant a long period of inaction as a singer, for I recovered very slowly from such attacks. I had been engaged to sing at a fashionable concert in which I very much wanted to appear. The papers were full of the affair, the programs were printed, and the theater had been long engaged. Then three days before the event that "bete noir" of all singers made its appearance. I "caught an awful cold." It is not necessary to recite the symptoms. You all know them. I had not much "resisting power" at that age, and from my past experiences I knew that that cold would inevitably grow worse and I should be unable to sing. In my distress, I called upon the manager of the affair and stated my dilemma. He was an eminent surgeon in those days, but had even then as little faith in the curative powers of medicines as I have now. As I was raised upon the old "stuff -a-cold-and- starve-a-fever" doctrine, I very naturally men- tioned it as my intended remedy, admitting, however, that I was apparently "in for a siege." He wagged his blessed old gray head and said: "I know you want to sing, young man, and sing you can; that is, if you will 123 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE accept my remedy for a cold. I always suc- cessfully try it when I am afflicted as you are, and I always speedily recover. It is not popular now, but some day it will be. Starve! Starve! Starve! Drink all the water you can, but do not take food of any description. Continue this treatment until that 110 pulse of yours goes down to 72 and your 103 temperature gets back to 98. I think this will happen before the end of three days, possibly sooner, and when it does, I shall expect you to show up at the theater and sing as you are billed. Now you go home and soak yourself in as hot a bath as you can stand, put a couple of mild porous plasters upon your chest and two between your shoulders. Go to bed and stay there until I tell you to get up, and don't take any medicines. Your family doctor and anxious relatives will certainly insist that you must take some nourishment. They will probably think you are insane if you refuse — "your strength must be kept up, as death might re- sult from weakness," etc., etc. But it will not do anything of the kind. Don't be afraid. You do as I tell you, then you will appear as you have agreed to do. 'Stuff a cold and starve a fever' be hanged. You have a fever now — a pretty bad one, and it is going to be worse; that is, if you do not follow my advice. All you need is sufficient courage and determination to follow it and follow it to the letter. You. 124 AND PREVENTION will not grow weak for lack of nourishment in a three days' fast, and you couldn't digest food anyhow with such a fever. You are billed to sing and you must appear." I took his advice. The results were exactly as he had stated. At the end of the three days' fast I made a satisfactory afternoon rehearsal, and successfully sang, my numbers the same night, and this without a trace of the bad cold! As my past experiences had led me to expect a month's siege, the fasting cure was a revela- tion! Now that is my experience of fasting for even a few days, and that is how I have cured my bad colds ever since for the past forty years. I have given the same advice to many singers, but like "angels' visits" those who have fol- lowed it are "few and far between." The demonstrated truth is, that fasting does cure colds and it cures them quickly, and you don't have to "take something for it." It isn't a popular remedy, at least not just now, but it is Nature's effective cure for glandular, troubles, such as colds are, and I think the only effective method of curing a cold. If I were a practicing physician I would urgently advise it, even if I had the entire local medical fraternity "down on me" for doing so. It is "unprofessional advice" and too cheap and easy anyway, and I would probably suffer a loss of patients; i. e., if I had any. 125 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE But then, you see, I don't practice and have only one patient— myself . I have made quite a suc- cess of him and that is all that I ever intended to do. It is too much trouble to give verbal advice and more to answer letters; that is why I write this book. You will find all my health methods in it, and the next time you catch a cold try the remedy I have described. It is perfectly safe, not unpleasant and you will save money in medicines, doctors' bills and, in- cidentally, meals. My old friend has "passed over" long since, but he has my hearty thanks for the good advice he gave me forty years ago, and I sincerely hope that residential conditions with him are of a nature which will enable him to hear of my gratitude. My opinion is, that if he were alive, he would surely be the author of a book upon fasting as valuable as any of these I will presently name and recommend. If you are interested in these books they will give you more explicit details than I can present in my limited space. The advice and data that you will then find are very valuable. Any- how, fasting is the method I practice to cure a bad cold and one of the reasons why my singing voice, a very high and powerful concert baritone, is as good at seventy-two as it was at thirty-two. We all eat too much ; that is, unless restricted by financial stringency, and excess in eating 126 AND PREVENTION may be said to be almost universal. That custom, combined with hurried eating and lack of suflBcient mastipation, is the cause, of say eighty per cent, of digestive disorders. I leave out the other twenty per cent, to be charged up to tobacco, "treats" and "I'm in a hiirry to get back to the office." But all this does not seem to apply to boys. I have arrived at that conclusion after trying to fill up several hungry small boys. I don't know where they stowed that dinner or what they did with it, but they couldn't be filled. Therefore, I except hungry boys. I have received many letters asking about my system of diet. Now, I am going to make a confession. I haven't any. I eat whatever I like, and lots of it. My excuse is that I have a ravenous small-boy appetite and am proud of it. That appetite is due to continuous systematic exercise, resulting in activity of all organs, both digestive and glandular, and any food that I take is eaten slowly and thoroughly chewed. Under these conditions the process of assimilation ' and elimination are upon a healthy equilibrium, therefore the perfect health I enjoy at over "three score and ten." Incidentally, I will remark that this satis- factory digestive condition cannot be acquired by any dinner pills or other digestive stim- ulants, all advertisements to the contrary. You may temporarily stimulate the digestive 127 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE process by such methods, but sooner or later there will be a reaction. Nature will object and finally when your stomach goes on a pro- tracted strike you will "wish you hadn't." And when in the hurry and struggle for financial success that most important of all organs of the human mechanism breaks down, life will not be worth living. "For what if a man gain the whole world and lose" — ^his stomach.'' For myself I couldn't have a better appetite or digestion. But if I were lacking in that respect I would fast occasionally for a few days just to give my stomach a rest and if I had a fever, catarrhal trouble or a "bad cold," or any other glandular disorder (for that is what a bad cold is) I would rely upon the fasting method to cure thein. I will go farther than this: I believe that both pneumonia and ap- pendicitis in their first stages can be almost certainly cured by a longer treatment, adopting the same system as that described in my three days' fasting experience, adding to that treatment, however, thorough flushing of the colon (or large bowel; see details of this method in chapter headed "Internal Cleanliness"). Also add the gentle ministrations of a thoroughly- trained professional nurse, and the absent treatment of any drug-store doctor. Under these conditions a satisfactory cure is almost certain. In neglected cases of appendicitis, of course, the knife of an able surgeon is the only 128 AND PREVENTION remedy, but only in extreme cases. Usually the patient in an appendicitis operation should be labeled "Opened by Mistake," and then be pasted together again. After this has been done the conditions are similar to Messrs. Peary's and Cook's claims of discovery of the North Pole — ^the correctness of the diagnosis can neither be proven nor disproven. The results of my investigations of methods by which Nature cures is that short fasts at intervals are important factors in preserving health and therefore of prolonging life. And I firmly believe that in nearly all forms of disease "fasting" is a most effective remedy. Really the short fasts which are a part of the Catholic and Jewish religions must have had their origin in the discovery of the beneficial effects of totally abstaining from all food at stated periods. I am a Jew and a Catholic to that extent. As to the logical reasons for sometimes resting the digestive organs, if the most confirmed dyspeptic had driven a horse until it was exhausted he would know enough to stop and give it a rest. But it never seems to occur to that dyspeptic cripple that the same rule applies to his own stomach. Instead of resting it he seeks relief in alleged dyspepsia remedies or alcoholic stimulants. These only temporarily relieve his distress. Reaction fol- lows and he is usually worse off than he was before. As a reformed dyspeptic with over 129 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE thirty years of personal experience in alleged medicinal remedies for that infernal complaint, I have seen the error of my ways. My recovery is principally due to practicing the same simple means by which you permitted your tired horse to regain his strength; that is, I have at intervals given my exhausted digestive organs short rests. In other words, when my familiar old malady reappeared I have fasted for two or three days, and always with good results. It is Nature's simple, inexpensive, but most effective remedy. Any four-footed fool jack- ass knows enough to practice that remedy when his stomach is on a strike. But his two-footed fool dyspeptic master doesn't. My advice, if your stomach is out of order, is to do what the jackass does — ^fast for two or three days. If your case of dyspepsia is bad and chronic, two or three days more will make a better job of it. But don't do too much at once. I think several short fasts are better than one long one. As an instance of the ease and small inconvenience attendant upon a long fast and the benefits derived from it, I present the case of Mr. John A. Wilson, a prominent member of the Berkeley (Cahfornia) City Coun- cil. This gentleman had been long afflicted with a serious case of nasal catarrh, other com- plications being imminent . All orthodox remedies had been unavailingly tried, the sufferer had almost given up hope of being cured, and tried 130 AND PREVENTION the fasting cure as a last resort. After thor- oughly studying the method he carefully pre- pared himself for a 30 days' trial. This he com- menced upon the evening of the 1st day of October, 1911. It ended successfully in public before an audience of about one thousand per- sons at the Berkeley Auditorium, Tuesday evening, October 31st, 1911. Owing to the political prominence of this gentleman, the Press of San Francisco, as well as of Berkeley and many other cities, have given this fast a great deal of publicity; also considerable con- troversy has arisen between members of the medical profession who oppose fasting and those advocating its benefits. Under these conditions my statement of the case may be of interest to the reader. I was engaged to deliver a lecture upon my methods of physical rejuvenation at the Berkeley Audi- torium the same date; i. e., October 31st, 1911. I appeared upon the stage with Mr. Wilson and had every opportunity to acquaint myself with his physical condition at the end of this thirty days' fast. Throughout that period I also met him frequently and examined his pulse, temperature and general condition. Quite a number of the medical profession and press representatives also availed themselves of the same privilege. There was no question of the honesty and strict observance of an absolute fast for the period of thirty days, and it is 131 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE only after Mr. Wilson has satisfactorily demon- strated the benefits of the experiment that any adverse criticism has been publicly made, and this only by interested opponents of Nature's remedy. It has been publicly stated that Mr. Wilson's health has been impaired by the lohg ab- stinence from food. Answering this, I have met him frequently since his fast and he assures me that he is healthier than he has been for twenty years, and he looks it. The chronic catarrh has wholly disappeared, and my opinion is that he is now a very healthy man. It has been stated that he was very weak when he appeared upon the stage upon the evening of October 31st. If he was, then, to use an Irish- ism, he must have been "powerful weak," as he insisted upon carrying my valise, full of books and other heavy matter, weighing in all forty- nine pounds, for the space of two blocks. And this four hours before he appeared with me upon the stage. His eye was clear, pulse regular and strong, and he walked beside me with the same steady rapidity which is my customary gait. If you wish to know the significance of that strength test try to carry forty-nine pounds two blocks without resting. It was a revelation to me. In answer to a letter of inquiry as to his physical condition, he replied, under date of December 2nd, 1911: "My weight before 132 AND PREVENTION my 30 days' fast was 165 pounds and now is 160. I lost during the October fast 19 pounds and regained 14 pounds in November. My age is sixty years; my height, 5 feet 9^ inches. I am in perfect health — ^better than before, but I think the most important thing I learned was confidence in my ability to take care of myself and of preserving my health by this method." My summary of the matter is that the dif- ference between systematic fasting, i. e., vol- untary abstinence from all food with a definite curative object in view, and enforced invol- untary fasting (that is starvation) lies wholly in the mental attitude. I make this statement as I have tried both methods and speak from experience. During the latter part of 1868 and a few months in 1869 I was engaged by the Chicago Tribune and some other parties finan- cially interested in the construction of The Kansas Pacific R. R. to go to the end of the line and report periodically all matters relating to the enterprise. This hastily-constructed, flimsy affair was stranded near Fort Wallace, somewhere near the center of Kansas. The country was a vast treeless rolling prairie, tenanted by predatory Cheyenne Indians, buf- falo, antelope, prairie dogs and rattlesnakes. Just the country in which a greenhorn was likely to lose himself and unlikely to be found again alive. I went along with one of the sur- veying parties and was no exception to the 133 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE greenhorn custom. I stalked a small herd of buffalo near camp, and in the course of an hour suddenly realized that either the sun was in the wrong place or I was hopelessly lost. The awful sense of despair attendant upon this discovery almost paralyzed me. I couldn't reason out the way back and remembering the fate of other lost greenhorns had but little hope, as there were no trees or landmarks to guide me. I had quietly left camp before day- break, and as the surveyors came in only at night there would be no possible chance for a rescue until the next day. 1 wandered on until I fell from exhaustion. That day passed into the next and the next, and then at the end of the fourth day I was found by our scouts, de- lirious, staggering blindly along and wasted to a bag of bones. It took me a month to re- cover from that experience, and yet I have frequently voluntarily fasted two or three days and several times as long as four days, without loss of strength, with little loss of flesh and no after effects other than of benefit. My summary of the matter is, as I have stated, that the difference between starving and fasting lies in the mental attitude and the beneficial effect of fasting is that it gives the stomach needed rest in any digestive disorders, while in "bad colds" the clogging rubbish or surplus matter is burned up or eliminated from the body and glandular structures very much in the 134 AND PREVENTION same way that end is accomplished by prolonged systematic exercise. The result in all of my experiences has been wonderfully beneficial. I have made but little preparation for my short fasts. 1 simply stopped eating and followed the plan hereinbefore described. At the end of these three or four days I always ate a light meal of well-cooked vegetables and the next day almost created a household famine by my vigorous appetite. Space will not permit me to describe the de- tails and preparation for an extended fast such as Mr. Wilson made, and I prefer to refer you to the books written by able specialists upon this important matter. If I did write those details I would be accused of copying them. The information you require will be found in "The True Science of Living," by Edward Hooker Dewey, M.D., pubKshed by Charles C. Haskell & Co., Norwich, Conn., and "The Fasting Cure," by Upton Sinclair, sold by Physical Culture Publishing Co., New York. Price, $1.00. The only danger in the fasting system, if not of too long duration, seems to lie at its termination. Taper off gently and don't gorge yourself. Do this and no harm will result. At the end of my four days' fasts I have taken, in moderation, grape juice, well boiled rice and green peas and carrots, the next day anything I liked, provided I chewed it. 135 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE Regarding my strictures upon the drug store medical profession: I am but voicing the opinion of a great rising tide of inteUigent protest against such antiquated methods. Al- leged medicinal remedies, long in favor, are losing their popularity. The halo of the old style, drug-dosing allopathic physician is out of fashion and dingy. Patent medicines require more advertising than formerly — dupes are not so plentiful and the pure food law has had a very discouraging efifect upon that industry. In short, people are commencing to think, to learn more of Nature's effective methods of cure and appreciate their value. As a result, the familiar sign, "Drugs" will be unfashionable before the end of this century. The advance is slow but it is sure. As far as you are con- cerned, as a means of health, learn all you can of Nature's effective cure for digestive dis- orders, colds and most minor glandular troubles. My space will not admit of all of the details you will require, but the authors of the books, named are authorities in the matter and I advise you to get those books. The "Physical Culture Magazine" of New York gives a great deal of space to the system and you will find much valuable data there. It is the pioneer pub- Ucation in popularizing Nature's curative meth- ods, and should be added to your sources of in- formation upon a matter which should be of vital interest to you, i. e., "The Fasting Cure." 136 The Secret of Good Digestion DIGESTION of food begins in the mouth, and to aecomphsh perfectly this part of digestion the food must be thor- oughly chewed, and in that process thoroughly insalivated. This will depend upon the con- dition of the tools you work with. Food cannot be thoroughly chewed unless the teeth are in good condition, and every tooth lost or diseased diminishes the ability of that person to masticate his food to the extent of that lost chewing surface. You might as well ex- pect a carpenter to turn out a good job with few and poor tools as to expect yoiir stomach to satisfactorily digest a lot of food which by reason of poor teeth, or few of them, was not sufficiently chewed. The loss of a tooth is therefore a misfortune, as just to that extent the preparatory process .of digestion is crippled. If digestion is not perfect, and if assimilation is not perfect, health is impossible. More bodily ills are due to what we eat and how we eat it, than any other cause. All the long train of digestive disorders, in fact, the majority of most human diseases, may be traced to the same basic starting point: What 137 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE you eat, how much you eat, and how you eat it, but principally the latter. It is in the mouth that the first and one of the most important steps in digestion takes place; the only step, in fact, over which the in- dividual has the slightest control, hence the importance in nutrition of sound teeth, a full supply, and a clean mouth. To believe as many do, that artificial teeth are quite as satis- factory in the mastication of food as natural ones, is a mistake. They sustain the same relation to natural teeth that a wooden leg does to one of flesh and bones, but if you lose a tooth, at once make good the loss by re- placing it with an artificial one. In this era of ingenious dentistry and really artistic bridgework, the counterfeit will do excellent service and will readily pass in- spection. That is, unless you ask the interested investigator to "step inside." If you do not commit that indiscretion and the investigator is not a dentist, nobody will find out. However, it is just as well to remember the old Spanish proverb, "The man with a paste diamond shuns the society of Lapidaries," and apply it to your own case. But if through any great loss of your teeth a plate has been found neces- sary, do not hesitate to put it in and. do so at once. For remember, "the stomach has no teeth," and if you have no teeth you will be unable to chew your food, therefore indigestion 138 AND PREVENTION with all its miseries will surely result. Econo- mize in any other direction you please but do not economize at a point where the process of nutrition commences. That would be "Penny wise and pound foolish." If a tooth is found to be decaying have it filled iat once, as decay in its beginning can be easily arrested,, without in the least impairing the usefulness of the tooth and early treatment is also less painful and less expensive. Usually the latter is a prime argument in its favor. Most people will not consult a dentist until they are really in pain. To avoid trouble have your teeth inspected at intervals, just as it is the custom to inspect elevators and boilers. It is less expensive in the "long run." What would be thought of the owner of a building who never had his elevators inspected, say at least two or three times a year? Always keiep the teeth clean. The time at which it is most necessary to cleanse the mouth and teeth is at bedtime. Really the ideal way to do this is after each meal. That is what I do, first using dental floss silk and this I always carry in my pocket. For convenience it is always put up in small, flat tin discs, manu- factured and sold under the name "Red Cross Packet Dental Ploss Silk." All druggists have them in stock, or should have. Draw the thread between the teeth, afterwards brush well. 139 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE Mornings and evenings I use a tooth paste put up in the ordinary sheet lead tubes, but in- stead of the usual round orifice or vent, get the kind with the narrow oblong vent. The paste comes out like a ribbon, it lasts longer, does not waste, and is far more cleanly. Don't keep any decayed teeth in your mouth; they are dangerous.- Fill, crown, or if too badly decayed, and as a last resort, have them extracted; but don't let any teeth stay in your mouth that are decayed; they are dangerous. Decaying teeth spell Dyspepsia. "Proper care of the mouth and teeth is one of the most important of all the measures that are taken for the protection of the human body and a failure to give them proper care is, in my judgment, the direct cause of more disease in the human family than any other single cause." Major W. O. Owen, M.D., Surgeon U. S. Army, says, and to which I say Amen: "In tuberculosis, a great handicap is defective teeth, as such chewing tools make it impossible to properly masticate and assimilate food, therefore in all such cases see that the teeth are kept in good order. This is important as well as a well-nourished body is of the first im- portance in the prevention or cure of 'The Great White Plague,' and I am certain that a foul mouth and decaying teeth, especially in children, decidedly increases the chance of 140 AND PREVENTION catching that dread disease as well as scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles or other contagious diseases. Under the most favorable conditions the human mouth may be regarded as an almost ideal culture medium for germ life. In fact, it presents in point of moisture, temperature, nutritive material, etc., an almost perfect breed- ing place for dangerous germs. As this con- dition exists under the most sanitary con- ditions, what must be expected when through neglect the teeth are decayed, the mouth foul, the breath offensive and the general situation a pertinacious invitation to dangerous bacilli." Regarding the importance of mouth hygiene and care of the teeth. Dr. William Osier says: "There is not any one single thing more im- portant in the whole range of hygiene, than the hygiene of the mouth. If I were asked to say whether more physical deterioration was pro- duced by alcohol or by defective teeth, I should unhesitatingly say 'defective teeth'." He is all wrong in his chloroform statement, but surely all right in this. In brief, dental diseases always mean, of whatever nature, an unclean and unhealthy, mouth, but they mean more than that, and this is an important thing to be remembered. They are indirectly the basic cause of digestive disorders and often of the various contagious diseases. You will admit that all of this is logical. 141 OLD AGE — ITS GAUSE You can't help it. That is, if you consider the matter carefully. But then a great many people who read this stuff will say, "What a lot of bother." Of course it is; but this bother with a lot of my other methods of getting young again, are the reasons why at 72 I look not very much over half of my age. Which reminds me that upon one of my camping- out trips a dirty, sickly fellow we had with us said to me, as he watched me scrubbing away at my teeth, "You are a great trouble to your- self, ain't you?" Gertainly, I admit it; that is why I am in such splendid health. And when any germs come loafing around my mouth, they decide not to apply for apartments, and instead they hunt up some such fellow, owning a lot of decayed teeth, a filthy mouth and a breath like a buzzard. Then they promptly move in and get busy. Later on that kind of a fellow is usually under a doctor's care and has to "take something for it." What he needed was a dentist and a tooth brush, then it would not have happened. And now to fathers and mothers. If all this .is too much trouble for yourselves, how about your children.? Their young lives are dependent on you. They cannot help themselves and you are the responsible parties. All that I have said applies to those children and to a greater degree than to grown people. Remember that foul mouth and decaying teeth, particularly in 142- AND PREVENTION childreil, decidedly increase the chances of catching contagious and infectious diseases, such as scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles and tuberculosis, and just remember that a clean mouth will do much to prevent such con- tagion. "As a result of bad teeth and unsanitary mouths the physical development of a growing child is seriously retarded. The more the physical development is disturbed the less in general is the mental capacity. Therefore the more defective the teeth, also the worse, as a rule, is the school standing." I quote this from an excellent work upon "School Hygiene and Discipline." As a summary, sound teeth properly used are an absolute necessity to good digestion, and in your efforts to cure your dyspepsia the first thing you should do should be to put your chewing tools in order, and having done so, keep them in that condition. At your meals use them thoroughly and deliberately, don't hurry, for if you do you will not make a good job of it and if you don't make a good job of this preparatory process and bolt your food, you will regret it. Food must be thoroughly chewed or properly assirriilated before it is taken into thip stomach, and as "the stomach has no teeth," it cannot be chewed there. As a consequence it will remain too long in the digestive tract, there it will rot and dyspepsia, acid stomach, 143 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE flatulency and the train of evils which follow indigestion will result. Medicines do not cure that condition; they may temporarily allay the distress, but if you bolt your food you may expect the trouble back again at your next meal, medicine or no medicines. I suffered from the agonies of acute dyspepsia for thirty years, and only recovered after I had learned to eat slowly and chew my food thoroughly. That is the secret of my present excellent di- gestion. Don't bother with pre-digested foods or alleged dyspepsia cures. Take my advice, first as to putting your chewing tools in order, and how to keep them in that condition, then learn how to eat. To the best of my belief Horace Fletcher did not invent the art of chewing food, but he performed a great service to mankind when he iterated and reiterated his advice to chew food thoroughly before it is placed in the stomach. He has written so exhaustively upon the subject that about all I can add to his advice is to get your chewing tools in order and at your meals use them thoroughly, and eat slowly; that is the great secret of a good stomach. If you have dyspepsia go without solid foods at your breakfast. Digestion is very slow when you are sleeping and there may be some residue from your last evening's meal; if there is that will hinder digestion of the next meal. If you are 1.44 AND 'PREVENTION accustomed to drink coffee, weak tea or milk at your breakfast, and they agree with you, con- tinue the practice, but not even a crust of bread. Any solid food will start the grinding process of the stomach muscles, for that is the next stage after food has been swallowed. In the .following chapter upon dyspepsia you will find described my methods of strengthening the stomach muscles, and it is important. Dyspepsia MOST people are afflicted with some form of digestive disorder, the "quick lunch habit" of the modern business man being more largely responsible for this condition than anything else; for it is not so much what you eat, as how you eat it. If your food is not thoroughly chewed, and, in that process, thor- oughly insalivated, it will certainly be digested with difficulty when it reaches the "stomach; and if this habit of^swallowing the food hastily, and without proper mastication, is persisted in dyspepsia, with its various complications, will surely result. There is no exception. Nature is a stern credi- tor, resenting any infraction of her laws. If you violate them, you will certainly suffer for it. And the severest penalties she inflicts are for trans- gressing the laws of digestion. Under the familiar title, dyspepsia, we group various dis- tressing digestive disorders, most of which could be avoided by properly chewing the food. I have stated that, in my personal experience, and by the system of exercises I practice, I have found it to be possible to build up the aged human body after it has passed the half- 146 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE century limit, and to restore to it the muscular development it may have possessed in earlier years; and that it is also possible to excel that condition. But this cannot, be done when serious digestive disorders exist ; until they are remedied improvement will be slow. As the trouble is usually caused by, hurried eating and, consequently, insufficient mastication, the logical remedy is to take more time at meals, and chew the food thoroughly. This change in habits alone will, most probably, greatly improve the digestive conditions in a short time. The next step is to strengthen the muscle's of the stomach, for the digestion of food depends largely upon the strength of those muscleis. In the process of digestion, the muscles of the stomach alternately contract and relax, pro- ducing a churning motion which, with the aid of the digestive fluids, digests the food. Now, if those muscles are weak, the. work of digestion will be carried on poorly and with great effort. If this process of digestion were solely the result of chemical action, then a healthy condition might, possibly, be artificially brought about by medicinal preparations, and cures might be effected by some of the numerous dyspepsia "dopes" advertised throughout the world. But, as muscular strength cannot be obtained from any drug, it is certain that these preparations cannot be the infallible remedies for digestive disorders the inventors and their advertisements 147 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE claim for them. Temporary relief from the dis- tress of indigestion may undoubtedly be ob- tained from these alleged remedies, and a more careful attention to diet — which the sufferer would most probably observe when taking them— would result in some improvement; but as well expect a cure by the use of opium, or any other anodyne, as to place dependence solely upon any drug, or combination of drugs. The remedy lies with one's self, and, if the following brief directions are followed faith- fully and persistently, any one will succeed as I have done. Chew your food slowly, that it may be thor- oughly insalivated and digested readily. It is also necessary to strengthen the muscles of the stomach. This can be accomplished by the foUowirig simple and easily-performed exercise: Lying on your back, bend your head well for- ward. (This action will contract and tense the abdominal muscles.) When the head is dropped back to the horizontal position, those muscles will relax. These alternate contraction and relaxation exercises will, of themselves, materially strength- en the muscles; but percussion will greatly aid in producing thd,t result. Therefore, as you alternately raise and lower the head, and thus contract and relax the muscles, strike the ab- domen rapidly with your clenched fists, at first lightly, but afterwards increasing the force of 148 AND PREVENTION the blow, as the muscles become stronger. This exercise will direct the blood to that part, will produce a healthy circulation, and strengthen the digestive organs. Another excellent exercise is to place the palms of the hands firmly upon the abdomen and rub back and forth, much in the way a washboard is .used. These two exercises will also reduce any fatty deposit which may have accumulated, and are harmless, inexpensive, and far more effective than the most widely- advertised and most lauded "dyspepsia cures." I speak from experience, ^as I suffered from dyspepsia for over thirty years, vainly seeking relief during all that time, from the various medicinal remedies prescribed by physicians, or others which I was induced to purchase by advertisements or by the recommendation of sympathetic friends. The causes of my trouble were hurried meals, insufficient mastication, and weakness of the abdominal muscles. My cure was effected by the system I have described. To those unfor- tunates who are afflicted as I have been, I strongly urge the practice of these exercises for strengthening the abdominal muscles. 149 How l^Sj^gthened My Eyes ^HE,ji^s-^f all of our faculties is equivalent and the loss of any one of them you. that much nearer the end. f your hearing or your powers of lo- coHiotion is a great misfortune, but the greatest physical calamity which can befall one is the total loss of sight. All the wealth in the world will not offset such a misfortune. And I have been so near that condition that even the mem- ory of those days still gives me the blues, the year "when the light failed." Always fearing a possible return to that awful condition, I am now as careful of my eyes as I was formerly negligent. Naturally, I had unusually good, strong eyes and that, I think, was the only point in niy physical heritage in which I was not a weakling. As I have elsewhere stated, in my younger days I was an accountant,^ an indoor sedentary profession which undermined my health and finally seriously injured my eyes. The con- seqiience was that for a long time I knew the misery of being unable to read, unable to bear the sunlight, and as any ray of light was agony I stumbled about wearing very dark glasses. OLD AGE--ITS CAUSE so dark t,hat all the world seemed to be in a dim, uncertain twilight. By a long enforced rest I partially recovered, but at about the time of my physical break- down or when I had reached the age of fifty the trouble again commenced, but I was com- mencing to learn something, and that some- thing was that any muscle or set of muscles, if exercised, will increase in size, strength and elasticity. Therefore, I reasoned, if this applied to the muscles of the body generally why would it not apply to the muscular structure of the. eyes.!* I found that the; action of each eye was controlled by six muscles, these being attached to the eye-balls and from them extended and attached to the bony structure in whicK they are encased. In the event of the reader wishing to read up on this subject you will find, these muscles described about as follows: The Superior Rectus, which moves the eye upward; the Inferior Rectus, which moves the eye downward; the Interior Rectus, which moves the eye inward; the Exterior Rectus, which moves the eye outward; the Superior and Inferior Oblique muscles, which control the ro- tation of the eye-ball. This is copied, from an elementary book or chapter upon the eye, but for the purpose of explaining, the exercises I practice, this information should be sufficient. ,As I lie in bed I look far to the right, then far to the left, then close the eyes tightly as 151 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE possible several times. Then, with eyes opened, turn them from obliquely upward to the right to obliquely downward to the left. Variation^ — roll eyes in a wide circle to the right; look far upward then far downward; turn eyes from obliquely upward at the left to obliquely down- ward at the right. Roll eyes in a wide circle to the left. During these exercises I strike both temples rapidly with the heels of my open hands. This last percussion exercise has a wonderfully invigorating effect upon, the eyes and will surely improve the sight. The reason for this is that it draws the blood to them and increases their vitality by enabling them to secure more and better nourishment. It also stimulates the nervous structure of the eyes. In commencing these exercises great care should be taken not to overdo them and for the first few times "go slow." I practice them now only in the morning as I lie in bed and afterwards I douche the eyes at the water faucet. The percussion example for the temples I learned from an old printer who practiced it and the eye-rolling exercises whenever his eyes be- came tired. His eyes were in excellent shape and he informed me that he often practiced both exercises during his work with great benefit. Bernarr Macfadden, editor of The Physical Culture Magazine, of New York, has published 152 AND PREVENTION an excellent little book entitled "Strong Eyes." The price is one dollar. The percussion exercise is not included in it, but the eye-rolhng ex- ercises are and are excellently illustrated. I advise you to get that book and read it care- fully. It contains many good suggestions, which space will not permit me to describe. The best proof of the efficiency of the eye exercise is that now at 72 my sight has improved to such an extent that I have been able to prose- cute without any distress the long series of re- searches and readings which I have found necessary in writing "The Art of Getting Young Again." Undoubtedly, this great im- provement in my sight is to a great extent indirectly due to my excellent physical con- dition, but it is- certainly directly due to the practice of the exercises I describe, and I am certain I could not have made this success if I had not systematically and persistently practiced those eye exercises. Therefore, if the muscles of your eyes are weak I advise you to follow my example. You will then surely strengthen them. I would also add if you will strengthen the rest of your body by the methods described in this book you will have no reason to regret following my advice, for this is "How I Strengthened My Eyes." 1S3 The Liver WHEN the liver is wrong everything seems wrong, for the heakh of the body de- pends largely upon its condition and activity. If it secretes bile normally, and per- forms its other functions healthfully, then the whole body has the benefit of its good work; but if, on the other hand, it is lazy or congested, troubles commence; a torpid or fractious liver being a very serious affliction. The list of troubles resultant from this condition is a long one. The liver is really a filter through which the blood must pass to be purified, and if this proc- ess of purification is improperly performed the blood is poisoned, and any or all of the organs may be a,flected more or less seriously. When the liver is sluggish there is usually a dull, aching pain in the right side, and ofter under the right shoulder blade. Then, too, there are pains in the forehead (more rarely in the back of the head); furred tongue; an unpleasant taste in the mouth at morning; a dingy, yellow color in the whites of the eyes; loss of ap- petite, and often dizziness; drowsiness after meals, and a generally pessimistic view of life. 154 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE These are some of the disagreeable conditions that result, in varying degrees of intensity, and there are others more serious that may follow, if this, one of the most important organs of the human system, is not kept up to its normal activity. Without going into the physiological details and functions of the liver, tJliink of it simply as a filter through which the blood must pass to be freed from its impurities, and remember that it must be kept in an active state to properly per- form its duties. To accomplish this it must be exercised, as must every other organ of the body, the simplest and most effective method being rhythmical agitation, or massage, performed by oneself in bed, preferably in the early morning, when the stomach is empty. It is best to first acquaint yourself with the position, size, and general characteristics of the liver, before commencing the exercises that follow. The liver is a gland, or rather a multi- tude of glands, bound together in one conglom- erate body. In an adult, it usually weighs-four pounds, and is nearly one foot in length in its longest dimension. It is situated upon the right side of the body. It occupies a large space in the abdomen just under the diaphragm, and is partially covered by the lower ribs. The most accessible point for its exercise or agi- tation is immediately above the angle of the right hip bone, and under the lower ribs. 156 156 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE It is held firmly in place by five strong liga- ments, and nothing but great abuse, such as tight lacing, unnatural pressure, or accidental injury to the region, can displace it; hence there is no possibility that the method of exercise I describe will injure the organ. After five years o£ practice I can confidently state that benefit alone will result, and that under the most comfortable conditions, and without medicine or expense. The practice of . the three exercises which follow, in combination with those previously described, will surely relieve you of the presence of that child of the Evil One — ^liver com- plaint-^-and its companions-dyspepsia. First Exercise Lying on your back, as shown in the illus- tration on the opposite page, place the ends of the fingers of both hands over that region of the liver at the right side of the abdomen, above the angle of the right hip bone, and below the edge of the lower rib. Then press the fingers upward and well under the rib. The abdominal muscles, being in a relaxed condition in this position, will readily yield to the pressure, and the liver can easily be moved or agitated. Press under an(i upward, and then relax the pressure, commencing with twenty movements, and in- 157 •o c o u 01 158 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE creasing up to one ■ hundred when your con- dition will warrant. The effect of this agitation of the organ is the same as that obtained in riding a trotting horse, an exercise universally reconimended by physi- cians when the liver is sluggish. Second Exercise Lying upon your right side, place your left hand over the region of the liver previously described. Incline the head slightly forward and bend the knees, as shown in the illustration on the opposite page. (In this position the ab- dominal muscles will be relaxed and the liver inclined slightly forward.) Press either the ends of the fingers, or the knuckle of the thumb, well under the ribs, and massage, or agitate, the liver as in the preceding exercise. While it is true that the first exercise may be sufiicient, yet this change of position seems to present another surface for manipulation; and both positions can be practiced with good re- sults. Third Exercise (Percussion) Percussion over the region of the liver will also promote its activity. The most advan- tageous position is upon the left side, the organ then being inclined slightly forward, and the 159 .tl JS H 160 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE muscles relaxed. Clench the right hand and strike lightly, but rapidly, at the point de- scribed. Commence with twenty light blows, in- creasing the number to one hundred or more, as your condition will warrant. Chest Development, Showing Result of Deep-Breathing Exercise 162 Deep-Breathing Exercises for the Develop- ment of the Lungs A TREATISE upon the simple exercises and methods by which 1 am physically a young man at seventy-two would be in- complete without a page upon breathing; for to breathe is to live, and "without breath, there is no life/' Differ as we may as to the virtues of the innumerable remedies and sys- tems advocated throughout the world for the preservation of health, we all agree that life is absolutely dependent upon the act of breath- ing, and that man cannot be healthy unless this function is performed as Nature intended. At the commencement the infant draws a long, deep breath, instinctively retaining it to extract from the air its life-giving property; then exhales it in a long wail, and its life upon earth begins. At the end, with the chill of death upon him, the heart of the old man flutters faintly — then one gasp — he ceases to breathe, and the life principle, dependent upon that act, leaves the body forever. From the first faint breath of the infant, to the last gasp of the dying man, it is one long story of continued breathing, for life is but a series of breaths. 163 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE Man may exist for a month without eating, a much shorter time without drinking, but without breathing his existence upon this earth will be measured by a few — a very few — minutes. "Air is life," and without pure air good health is impossible; therefore keep in the open air as much as possible. See that your home is well ventilated, and sleep with your windows open. As you walk, frequently inhale deeply, filling the lungs slowly as full as possible without any feeling of dizziness, then exhale slowly, allowing the duration of in- halation and exhalation to be about equal. Practice this exercise as much as possible in the sunlight, for we are all dependent upon the sun for the life principle; its rays are filled with vibrations of energy and life, and the air vi- talized by sunlight is an inexhaustible store- house from which we extract the vital force as we breathe. As you lie in bed in the morning, with the windows open, practice this deep-breathing ex- ercise, the same movement as in walking. The most convenient position is upon your side or back. It must be admitted that athletes or pro- fessional strong men are, as a rule, short lived, consumption and pneumonia being most fre- quently the cause of death among that class of men who, by reason of their strength and physical development, would seem to be im- 164 AND PREVENTION mune from those diseases. Usually the sudden death of a noted athlete from pneumonia is attributed to dissipation after the arduous work of preparation for some athletic event, or undue exertion when "out of training." While this is often the case, it will not account for the deaths, by consumption and pneumonia, of a -number of professional strong men, who were noted for their abstemious lives. The real reason has been that their bodies were unequally exercised; the external muscles being developed to their fullest capacity, but the lungs, being neglected, have remained in their original condition, and far inferior in their de- velopment to the powerful external structure. In this condition any unusual strain or exposure which might not have any deleterious effect upon the strong and thoroughly seasoned ex- ternal muscles, might work very serious injury to the comparatively weak and poorly-de- veloped lungs. Like a chain, which is only as strong as its weakest link, this, the weakest part of the body, suffers. If you would be healthy, develop the body evenly; and if these exercises for the lungs are practiced as described, you need not fear pulmonary diseases. I speak from experience, for my father died of consumption at the age of forty-two. I in- herited weak lungs and a tendency to that dread disease. By these lung-strengthening ex- 165 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE ercises, I have increased the expansion of my chest from two and one-half inches to five and one-half inches, and am absolutely free from coughs, colds, or any lung weakness. I strongly urge the adoption of these deep- breathing exercises, in this or any other system of training or physical culture. 166 Organs of Digestion 167 Cleanliness Internal I EARNESTLY advise the "internal bath" — what is usually designated as "flushing the colon," or "rectal irrigation" — ^but most decidedly not what is known as taking an injection. Mere injections of a pint or a quart of water, as usually, practiced, are insufficient and ineffective. To properly wash the colon, at least four or five quarts of water are necessary, for the largest intestine is five feet in length, and when dis- tended is fully three inches in diameter. The proper appliance for cleaning the colon, or the large intestine, is a rubber water bag, with a capacity of five quarts, to which the in- jection pipe, or point, is attached at the center. The weight of the body forces the water into and cleanses the colon without the slightest physical effort. The time occupied in this operation is about fifteen minutes. It is the simplest and most effective appliance for this purpose yet invented, and is an important factor in my system oi physical rejuvenation. I strongly advise its use at least once a week. It is called "The Cascade," and is for sale by J68 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE the Tyrrell Hygienic Institute, 1562 Broad- way, New York. I cheerfully give the appli- ance this endorsement in return for the benefits I have derived from its use. The importance of keeping this large in- testine clear of obstruction is easily apparent. It is the receptacle for the waste matter of the system, and may be termed the sewer of the body. If it is allowed to become clogged with fecal matter, as is the case in constipation, it becomes the incubating ground of disease- breeding germs, and the source of ail manner of diseases and complications, which would not occur if it were kept properly clean. Physic is but a poor method of attaining the end. The internal bath, by the process described, is the only logical, simple^ and effective method by which it can be accomplished. To those who read this book and adopt my system of exercises, I strongly urge its practice,, at least once a week, though twice a week is better. 169 Cleanliness External THE skin protects the soft and sensitive parts of the body from mechanical in- jury, and from the effects of heat or cold. It has over two million sweat tubes, aggregating several miles in length, through which it throws off from ten to fifteen thousand grains of dead matter daily. The under layer of skin is covered with a complete network of blood vessels spreading over a surface of nearly fifteen square feet. There are also numerous oil glands which constantly throw off fatty secretions ; an active, clean, healthy skin is, therefore, a very im- portant factor in the process of eliminating dead and clogging matter, and in greatly aiding the work of the kidneys and lungs. It is essen- tially one of the principal conditions of health, while, on the other hand, an inert, dirty skin must necessarily increase the labor of the or- gans mentioned, hasten their decay, and shorten life. By profuse sweating the weight of the body, when in a gross condition, and when there exists an excess of adipose tissue, can be re- duced from two to five pounds in an hour. 170 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE When the skin is in an inert, stagnant con- dition, any sudden change in the atmosphere, which could have no injurious effect upon a healthy, vigorous skin, may produce a chill by which the secretions are checked, with the re- sult that a large amount of blood may be driven to the interior and some of the organs may be- come congested. A bad cold, with all of its attendant discomforts, may follow, with the possibility even of other and more serious complications. The necessity of keeping the pores open and free, to eliminate the waste matter, is quite evident, and the very best way to remove the surface dirt and accomplish, the desired end is by the plentiful and frequent use of soap and warm water. Previous to the bath, create a friction on the back and shoulders and back of the legs with a rough Turkish towel, and on the chest, stomach and front of the legs with horse-hair mittens, which can be purchased at almost any drug store. This will loosen the dead epidermic scales and the impurities lodged upon the skin, and greatly add to the benefit of the bath. I advise the tepid bath; it is very true there is usually an invigorating eflfect in the cold bath where prompt reaction follows, but in the case of persons of advanced years, or those in poor health, recovery from the shock of cold water may not be prompt, and a distinct lowering of the vital force will temporarily follow. The m OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE face will appear drawn, and a sensation of ex- haustion will be felt for some time afterwards; while, with the tepid bath, if the skin is pre- viously subjected to vigorous friction — as de- scribed — the circulation will be accelerated, and the same tonic effect will be obtained, without any lowering of the nervous energy. The water should be of about the same tem- perature as the skin. If it be too hot, and the bath prolonged, the muscles will relax, and a feeling of lassitude will result. Therefore, my advice to those advanced in years, or in poor health, is to use the tepid bath as the "happy medium." Create a friction on the body as di- rected; then let there be a quick, but total, immersion. This practice daily will be sufficient to keep the skin in a healthy condition. 172 Uric Acid Crystals 173 Rheumatism TO those who have a tendency to acid rheumatism the methods I have de- scribed of eUminating the worn-out, or dead, matter from the system, are of great benefit. By this process of systematically ex- ercising all the muscles of the body by alternate contractions and relaxations, the uric acid which is the basic cause of the trouble, and which the kidneys have failed to eliminate, finds no place of permanent lodgment. It is compelled, by the persistent agitation, to "move on," and is expelled by the natural excretions of the body before it has found time and place to settle and form into the minute crystals, which, Uke so many splinters, are the cause of the acute pains characteristic of the disease. Rheumatism has been termed "the disease of age." This is not altogether true, for, while it must be admitted, that as we advance in years it is ever to be dreaded, to think that it is the inevitable disease of age is an error. It should be termed, rather, the disease of inaction and con- sequently disordered digestion. The remedy is systematic muscular activity. In this way it is possible to eliminate from the 374 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE system the cause of the disease. The simplest, most effective and easiest method is described in these pages. I know from my own experience, and the experience of those who have followed my example, that this system of exercising every muscle of the body will surely prevent this most painful ailment; and, when it is not too far advanced, will effect a cure which may not be possible by the drug method. 175 i i A f s 1 1 1- W^ pi I m i ] j s'% 'Wt^KSmm?. i m^^ ■ 1 1 SSP* ^^Hi'i A \ I mm 1 m \ ml 1 ! ; ^m m 1 i 1 y m^ •1 1 mm ■ i Valves of the Veins 176 Varicose Veins 177 Varicose Veins in the Legs — the Cause and the Cure AS we advance in years a distention of por- r\ tions of the large veins in the legs is apt to appear. This is especially noticeable in the case of persons whose occupation neces- sitates a standing position, with little chance for exercise. Clerks, hookkeepers, and workers at "the bench" in the different trades prin- cipally- are the sufferers. This quiescent, up- right position produces stagnation of the blood in the legs; hence pressure and a steady strain upon the walls of the venous system at that point. Result, a permanent distention, or "varicose veins." In youth, if a change of occupation is made, this affliction may disappear, but if the trouble ensues in or after middle age a cure by any lotion or other medicinal remedy is impossible. It is true that a surgical operation will effect a cure, but that method of relief is expensive and painful, and will necessitate a discon- tinuance of occupation during the healing proc- ess. Temporary relief can be obtained by the use of an elastic stocking, but without this support a continuance of the occupation and 178 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE position which caused the trouble will surely induce its return. The first indication of a varicose vein is a dull, aching pain. The vein becomes much larger, knotted and distended ; in extreme cases a rupture of the wall sometimes follows. This is infrequent, but always possible. In the clinical report of my physical con- dition made by Doctor Carl Renz, February 5, 1895, which appears in the first pages of this book, he notes "varicose vein upon, the inside of the right leg (uses an elastic stocking)." This affliction is a common one, is always annoying, and, writing from personal experience, often extremely painful. It appeared when I had reached my fortieth year and annoyed me for eighteen years there- after. I relieved myself of the trouble by the persistent practice of the simple exercise or method which I shall describe. But first, to understand this method of cure, it is ■ necessary to acquaint yourself with the structure of the weakened vein. You will then readily comprehend why the exercise I practice and advise is beneficial. The following brief description of the venous system is a summary of a long chapter upon this subject taken from the standard text book — Gray's Anatomy. I have omitted the technical and sciientific terms that the description may be readily understood by the average reader. 179 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE The veins are the vessels which serve to re- turn the blood from the capillaries of the dif- ferent parts of the body to the heart. The veins are found in nearly every tissue of the body. They are larger and altogether more numerous than the arteries; hence, the entire capacity of the venous system is much greater than the arterial. The arteries, which are more dense in structure than are the veins, are also stronger, more elastic, and preserve their cylin- drical form when empty. The veins have not this property, and col- lapse when not filled with blood. They have thinner walls than the arteries and are not so well supplied with muscular fibre; hence they are more liable to distention at any part where stagnation is liable to occur. All of the larger veins are provided with valves. Their shape and position are shown in the illustration on page 176. These valves serve to prevent the reflux of the blood. They are attached by their convex edges to the walls of the veins. Their concave margins are free and directed in the course of the venous current. They lie in close apposition with the wall of the vein as long as the current of blood takes its natural course. If, however, any stagnation or regurgitation occurs, the valves at that place become dis- torted, their opposed edges are brought into contact, the current is intercepted, and a dis- tention of the wall of the vein ensues, which 180 AND PREVENTION distention we know as that very painful ajSBiic- tion, a varicose vein. As the primal cause of the trouble is stag- nation of the blood at the point, acceleration of the circulation there would relieve that con- gestion; and the only way this can be effected is by friction. The most effective method for accomplishing this is with the dry palm of the hand, and the most convenient time and place is the same as in the other exercises I have de- scribed — ^in bed and in the early morning. The conditions are then favorable, as the sys- tem is relaxed and will readily respond to in- telligently-directed efforts towards its rejuvena- tion or improvement. The trouble will most probably appear upon the inside of the leg below the knee, running along the calf of the leg, but it may extend sev- eral inches above the knee and along the inside of the thigh. With increased years the conges- tion or distention of the superficial veins will extend lower down, immediately above and around the ankle. This may become discolored and assume a deep bluish hue because of the stagnant blood. Relief is obtained by friction, with the palm of the hand, daily and persistently. This ex- ercise will relieve the congestion, strengthen the minute muscles that support the venous walls, and if persisted in systematically and methodi- cally, will finally restore the distorted venous 18X OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE valves to their proper position (see the two illus- trations on pages 176 and 177), when the trouble will disappear. It is a simple, easy and eflfective remedy for a very annoying affliction. I speak from personal experience. The most convenient position is lying upon your side. Commence with twenty strokes of the hand up and down, following the course of the vein, increasing as the skin becomes hard- ened and accustomed to the friction, to one hundred strokes. If persisted in, a cure is ultimately sure, in any ordinary case. Concerning Various Methods Proposed to Defer Old Age ALL prominent writers upon Old Age and methods by which it can be deferred, ' seem to be agreed as to the principal causes of that condition, but the theories ad- vanced for its prevention are almost as various as the writers, or say as numerous as medicinal remedies advised for a bad cold. An^iong the few books published upon this subject, De Elie Metchnikoflf's work upon "The Prolongation of Life" is best known. The various reasons for physical deterioration are clearly described and the effects of age are well illustrated by numer- ous interesting pictures. It is the work of a thoughtful, able scientist. But after carefully reading the book it does not seem to me that, aside from the excellent advice to observe certain sound, hygienic ruleg,' with descriptions of rational systems of diet, ^^nything new and valuable is advanced; that is, in the description of the proven methods of materially prolonging life. To the public generally Professor Metchnikoff is well known as the prophet of the great value of sour milk as a food article. This diet, ac- 1S3 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE cording to his statement, has the virtue of pro- longing human Hfe to extraordinary ages. The corroborating evidence, however, is merely that "M. Grigoroff, a Bulgarian student at Geneva, has been surprised by the number of centenarians to be found in Bulgaria, where sour milk is a staple article of food." Another valuable authority, named Riley, is quoted as follows: "The wandering Arabs of the desert live almost wholly on the milk-of camels, fresh or soured, and upon this diet they live two or three hundred years." I presume, from his name, Mr. Riley was another Bulgarian. Any- how, he seems to have been gifted with a won- derful imagination. Professor Metchnikoff still further adds to the strength of the evidence he presents by his own statement that: "The fact that so many races make sour milk and use it copiously is an excellent testimony of its usefulness." With a considerable experience in frontier life, and some knowledge of the diet and customs of "cow country" inhabitants, my opinion is that pork and beans would speedily take the place of sour milk in Bulgaria, Egypt or any other country where the opportunity to take their choice was offered those people; that is, if either Riley's wandering two hundred years old Arabs, or M. Grigoroff's "numerous Bulgarian centenarians" could get those articles at the same price and had it. My qpinion is that as 184 AND PREVENTION food is usually scarce in those regions it was probably a case of buttermilk or "belt up." Professor Metchnikoff cites as a further support of the popularity of sour milk, the Biblical story that when Abraham "entertained the three angels he set before them soured milk and sweet milk and the calf which he had dressed." (Genesis XVIII, 8), the inference being that Abraham knew that even the angels are fond of sour milk. All this certainly evidences its popularity in countries where food is scarce, but the personal experience of the learned scientist as to the virtue of sour milk in the prolongation of life does not seem to have been very great as he says : "For more than eight years I took as a regular part of my diet soured milk, at first prepared from boiled milk inoculated with a lactic leaven. I am very well pleased with the result and think that my experience has gone long enough to justify my views." Eight years' experience of a sour milk diet might help his digestion, but it is no proof that life can be prolonged two hundred years, or half of that period by such a diet. And outside of that brief personal experience the hearsay evidence presented is not very convincing. The fact is that sour milk, or buttermilk, in nearly all digestive disorders is really an excel- lent article of diet, as it is usually easily digested, and usually seems to soothe an irritated stomach, 189 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE But this is not always the case. My own per- sonal experience is of such a nature that I speedily abandoned it. Like Louis Cornaro, I only write of my own experience, therefore I am unable to agree with Dr. Metchnikoff that a sour milk or buttermilk diet is the solution of the problem of ages; i. e., the prolongation of life. That it is an excellent article of diet in most digestive disorders I certainly admit, but when you have recovered you will change your menu, and this without much urging. In estimating ages of human beings by their appearance, there is an important factor which should always be considered, and this is that out-of-door or nomadic people, of the type of the raqes instanced, always look older than they really are, and this would be especially the case in the desert-wandering two hundred years old Arabs of the imaginative Mr. Riley. This would also very probably apply to M. Grigo- roff's "numerous Bulgarian centenarians." The reason is that exposure to the elements conse- quent upon an out-of-door life gives an ap- pearance of age to the face, which years might not warrant. I know this applies to the Ute Indians of mountainous Colorado and New Mexico, and also to the "Horse Indians" of the plains; that is, of Kansas, Texas and Arizona, for I have seen a good deal of those American Arabs, and know that after the age of say fifty it was impossible to accurately 186 AND PREVENTION judge their ages, and this especially applied to their women. In making this statement I do not in any- way undervalue the advantages of an out-of- door life as a means of longevity, that being my idea of an ideal life, but in the countries where these alleged centenarians are reported to be so numerous, sanitary appliances, clean- liness and all recognized hygienic methods of life are, to quote an Irishman, "noticeable by their absence." Under these conditions the appearance of age is usual at a period of life which in more civilized environments would not obtain. The errors in ^ge estimates of Mr. Riley and M. Grigoroff can therefore easily be explained. In this country the Mexican race formerly had the credit of producing many centenarians; in fact, if an imaginative space-writer was (or still is) at a loss to locate a centenarian and found that his editor didn't think much of the usual county poorhouse cases, he promptly located his instance of "wonderful longevity" in New Mexico, Arizona, or some part of the country difficult to get at, a significant fact be- ing that with increased traveling facilities and opportunities for other ubiquitous news- paper men to investigate, people in those countries who have lived long past a century are now as hard to find as Dodos. And after the find has been made their age is just as difficult 187 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE to prove. "Leading the simple life" in a poor- house seems to be, from newspaper articles, an effective means of reaching the century mark, and from a dietary standpoint alone it sounds reasonable, at least to me, as I agree with Louis Cornaro that we all eat too much and that vastly more people are killed by over-eating than from insufficiency of food. Still, I seem to have found simple but effective methods of conducting my life by which I can enjoy all of the good things I like without physical de- terioration, or the necessity of a poorhouse or buttermilk diet. The gratifying results of my system of acquiring health and prolonging my life are a small-boy appetite and a condition of bodily elasticity such as I never possessed in the best days of my early manhood. When this happy condition is a thing of the past then I will still further experiment with sour milk, onions, garlic and other alleged life-prolonging foods, which have been recommended to me. All of these have had their day of publicity, or short- lived favor, but have then been found wanting in the virtues claimed. Like the hospital cat, I have had all kinds of medicines and health foods tried upon me, and speak as one in authority. In an evil hour an old sea captain induced me to try onions and garlic. I do not know what effect that diet has upon Professor Metchnikoflf's leucocytes and phagocytes, but 188 AND PREVENTION as a means of discouraging book agents or standing off your creditors I heartily recommend it. A diet of onions and garlic may prolong life, but the chances are that something might happen which would warrant the celebrated Irish epitaph: "This monument was erected to the memory of Pat Mulligan who was shot as a mark of respect by his friends." There are a lot more of such fool methods of prolong- ing life, but the list is too long to enumerate. Health foods are advisable, but I did not acquire my splendid digestion and health by predigested foods, and although I have great faith in a diet which is largely vegetarian, I do not believe that Ufe can be prolonged to ex- traordinary ages by any particular article of food; that is, per se. Regarding other presumably logical and to some extent possible methods of life, or by which old age may be deferred, Dr. DeLacy Evans presents in his book "How to Prolong Life" some suggestions which, from a theoretical point of view, seem very plausible; but in the ordinary conditions of life are not generally practicable. For that reason I only partially agree with him. His theory is that "distilled water used as a drink will keep salts already existing in the blood in solution, and therefore prevent their undue deposition in the various organs and structures." He also states that its use favors their elimination by the dif- 189 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE ferent excreta "and if the same be the only Hquid taken into the system either as a drink or as a medium for the ordinary decoctions of tea, coffee, etc., it will in time tend to remove these earthy compounds which have accumu- lated in the system." He also advises fruit as a principal article of diet, giving a list of fruits beneficial, also of food-stuffs containing the smallest percentage of lime, and therefore least likely to form earthy deposits. In a general way, that is the outline of his system. It is all good and reasonable, but under the ordinary conditions of life nine hundred and ninety-nine people out of a thousand will find it impossible to carry it into practice. As a laboratory experiment unques- tionably he is right, but in actual life it will never be generally in vogue. The likes and dislikes of people are to be considered; also the ex- pense and usually the difl&culty of practicing any particular system of diet. What the general public want is something easy, inexpensive and eflFective. Given those conditions, that method of obtaining health and prolonging hfe cannot help becoming popular. After we consider all the other systems which have had sufficient publicity or favor to warrant careful consideration, I will describe in detail the simple means by which I have succeeded in accomplishing in my own person that which 190 AND PREVENTION all the various methods mentioned claimed could be done, but unfortunately their authors failed to prove ; that is,their efficiency in their own persons. Another suggested means of preventing or removing limey sedimentary deposits in the arteries is the use of phosphorus in the water we drink. As this remedy had been endorsed* by DeLacy Evans, Dittmar, Liebig and some other lesser scientific lights, I decided to give it a trial. The reasons why it should be of value in deferring old age will be found fully de- tailed in my friend, Frank Havens', interesting book, "The Possibility of Living Two Hundred Years." The book is a compilation of valuable data in the science of deferring "old age." From the chapter entitled "Phosphorus," I quote "The business of thinking is organic." "Without phosphorus no thought" is a German saying. "Phosphoric acid combines with the alkaline and earthy bases existing in the blood, forming neutral salts. As the amount of phosphoric acid increases, part of the insoluble earthy compounds become- superphosphates, which are soluble and circulate again in the blood, and a portion is removed from the system in the liquid excretions. This prevents the accumulation of earthy compounds, the cause of old age, and even removes those already deposited, thereby prolonging life for a lengthened period." The method of intro- ducing phosphorus into the system is de- 191 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE scribed as follows: "Unoxidized phosphorus in syrup glycerine, etc., in doses of one or two drachms, according to the strength of the solution. The alkaline hypophosphites and the dilute phosphoric acid in doses of from ten to twenty drops in a glass of water." I do not know whether the highly scientific gentlemen whom I have mentioned and from whom my friend Havens probably borrowed that idea, ever tried the remedy upon themselves, but I did, and I don't advise any one else to try it. In my case the immediate result was a highly irritated stomach, with abnormal profanity, and it set my teeth on edge to such an extent that I couldn't chew any food tougher than mush for some time afterwards. The fact is that these suggested medicinal remedies for age are almost invariably the result of laboratory experiments. In theory they are logical and should work, but in practice upon the human structure they are hopeless failures. Nature has her own effective methods of cure and also of prevent- ing, or at least, materially deferring the disease, which we term "old age," but she needs no help from medicinal preparations. By studying and adapting those methods to my own case 1 have succeeded in rejuvenating my old body to a degree far beyond that which I had supposed possible. Follow my example and that success can be yours. While I do not claim that a very bad and chronic case of arteriosclerosis can be 192 AND PREVENTION absolutely cured by the exercises I describe, I am confident that if when such indications of age first appear muscular contractions or Nature's muscle-pumping method is commenced and practiced systematically and persistently, improvement is certain, and that health con- ditions generally can be greatly improved, even in my a,dvanced years, is evidenced by several aged correspondents who have Written me to that effect. As their ages range from sixty-five up to seventy-six years, the period when gentle muscular activity, such as I de- scribe, ceases to be beneficial is too indefinite to be positively stated. Dr. Osier created a world-wide sensation some years ago by stating that after human beings had reached the age of sixty they should be subjects for chloroform. I do not know the learned scientist's age or physical condition, but if that statement was based upon his own per- sonal experience, and was the result of his pro- fessional methods of prolonging life, he made a sad mistake, not alone in his own case, but it has discouraged and has been a great detri- ment to thousands of others whose ages ap- proximated that period. It is very unfortunate that such a statement from a prominent mem- ber of his profession should have obtained such publicity. Furthermore, it is not true, as at the age of seventy-two I present the physical condition of a trained athlete of half my age, 193 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE with perfect health, vitahty and the bodily- elasticity of youth. Therefore, I beg to differ with Dr. Osier, unless, of course, his views apply only to himself. About the time when, worn-out and dis- heartened, I commenced the system of exercises which have resulted so fortunately for me, another scientist created a sensation almost equal to that of Dr. Osier's, by stating in a widely -circulated article that it was injurious to actively exercise after the age of thirty -five. The statement of that alleged authority upon this subject was probably also based upon his own life of mental activity and most probably physical inactivity, resulting in an old body. To me it was a most discouraging statement. Still, I persevered and succeeded, and that suc- cess has been, as I have stated, far beyond my most sanguine expectations. Nature's law is that: All muscles, all organs grow in size, strength and elasticity when they are properly exercised, and just as certainly, all muscles, all organs, and I may say, every part of the body, including even the roots of the hair, lose those qualities and rapidly deteriorate if they are not exercised. It is Nature's unalterable law. In short, the secret of health and long life is ex- ercise, exercise persistent and methodical, from the time you toddle across the floor as an in- fant, until the shadow falls, and the vital cord that connects you- with the great reservoir 194 AND PREVENTION of the life principle snaps and you step into the great mystery, beyond. The most perfect man,' possessed of the strong- est body the world has ever seen, will surely deteriorate if he does not exercise. This ap- plies to every human being of either sex or whatever age. There is no exception to the law, and if you would be healthy and prolong your stay upon this earth you must work for it. There is no other successful method. Diet as you will, stuff yourself with health foods, saturate your system with the most widely- advertised medicinal preparations for the at- tainment of health, strength, activity and longevity, you will not succeed unless you keep your body clear of all dead and clogging matter, and this can only be accomplished through Nature's method. There is no substitute. There can be none. For the encouragement of those who have reached or passed middle life and think they are too old, remember that I commenced my experiments upon this art of physical rejuvenation at fifty, an age when such improvement as I have obtained was thought impossible, and in the instances cited of the aged people who have sent me testimony of their improvement, the system of exercises they practice and which I have devised was only taken up during the past three years. And you, too, if not hopelessly wrong organ- ically, will also succeed; that is, if you follow 195 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE my instructions, and you will most probably succeed far more rapidly than . I have done, for of the many years I have spent in perfecting the art of getting young again, a considerable number have been records of disheartening failures, wrong methods, misplaced confidence in the judgment of others, and much time lost in the investigation of mistaken but much lauded medicinal or dietary remedies. You will, therefore, profit by my mistakes. I have now adopted and practice only those methods which after careful trial have proven beneficial and effectual in my own case, and as I do not differ in my physical make-up from other men, I know that the means by which I have succeeded will be successful with you. You know the benefits of exercise, but the general impression is that it means joining a gymnasium, or performing a variety of violent motions in your bed-chamber, and probably at unpleasant hours. Naturally, in time they become distasteful and are finally abandoned. Exercise is, of course, simply muscular activity; i. e., the alternate contractions and relaxations of the muscles, and this can be easily effected without mechanical appliances, and in this way is far more easily and effectively performed as you lie comfortably in bed under cover of the bed-clothes. And as these movements are performed slowly there is no necessity of dis- arranging them. 196 AND PREVENTION Remember always that each set of muscles should be exercised slowly and by themselves. Under these conditions there is no strain upon -the heart and there need be no great acceler- ation of the pulse. If you have any curiosity upon that point accustom yourself to test your pulsation and if the exercises are performed as advised you will find I am correct. From the great mass of letters I have received I find that the average age of the writers who have be- come interested in my simple methods of rejuvenation, seem to come from persons of middle age or those who have commenced to realize that some marks of age have become evident. Regarding those persons, or those between the ages of 35 and 55, it may be of in- terest to know that the pulse under healthy conditions should run at about 72. But in the early morning, after a quiet night's rest, it will most probably run three to five beats slower, while soon after any activity possibly it will rate along at say from 75 to 80. .1 find this is the situation in my own case, and as I am physically in the condition of a very healthy man of about forty, my impression is that if you are nearly that age you will find your pulse to be at about the same rate. This statement is made in a general way, as frequently I have found great variations from what seems to be the usual rule, and this even when the subject seems perfectly sound, healthy and conditions normal. 197 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE The following table of pulse frequency, com- piled .by Professor W. ¥. Porter, may be found interesting as it is the work of an excellent authority upon this subject: Table of Pulse Frequency Compiled by Professor W. F. Porter AGE BEAT PEK MINUTE AGE BEAT FEB MINUTE AGE BEAT PER MINUTE 1 134 13-14 87 30-35 70 1-2 111 14-15 82 35-40 72 2-3 108 15-16 83 40-45 72 3-4 108 16-17 80 45-50 72 4-5 103 17-18 76 50-55 72 5-6 98 18-19 77 55-60 75 6-7 93 19-20 74 60-65 73 7-8 94 20-21 71 65-70 75 8-9 89 21-22 71 70-75 75 9-10 91 22-23 70 75-80 72 10-11 87 23-24 71 80 & 11-12 89 24-25 72 over 79 12-13 88 25-30 72 I am often asked if I smoke. I must admit, sometimes, and I think it is a bad practice. The effect of nicotine upon the heart, arterial and nervous system, is bad. It certainly greatly in- creases the blood pressure and the injurious effects are more speedy than alcohol, although possibly not so lasting. I do not think my post 198 AND PREVENTION prandial cigar assists my digestion in any de- gree and if there is any tendency to acidity of the stomach I am confident that it aggravates that condition. Just what effect nicotine has upon the heart you can easily find out by trying the pulse of any inveterate smoker. The uneven beat of the "tobacco heart'' will at once be evident and it is certain that any marked variation from steady i;hythm of normal, healthy pulsation indicates a weakening at fife's central station. My pulse always runs steadily, but when it fails to do so I will instantly cut out that one post prandial cigar as that will probably be the cause of the trouble. In short, I think smoking is a bad and injurious habit. It is almost as bad as having an interest in a cocktail route. I am often asked if it is possible in age to restore by any exercise, the coloring pigment of the hair. That is an experiment which I am now making. This idea was suggested by reading "Old Age Deferred," by Arnold Lorand, M.D., of Carlsbad, Austria, and published by F. A. Davis Company of Philadelphia. His treatment of, the interesting subject upon which he writes is based principally upon entirely novel lines. Aside from presenting a great deal of excellent advice in the direction of the neces- sity of , observance of proven hygienic laws, general rules for the maintenance of health and the conduct of life generally, he advances the 199 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE theory that the secret of a long Hfe lies prin- cipally in preserving a healthy condition of the thyroid gland. That is the large gland that is situated at the lower part of the throat. It consists of two lobes lying upon both sides of the wind pipe or trachea, below the Adam's ap- ple and at about the third ring of the trachea. In man these two lobes are connected by a nar- row isthmus. In woman three lobes appear. Dr. Lorand claims that upon the condition of this thyroid gland our health or ill health and term of life are largely dependent. As this theory is exhaustingly argued through a work of 458 pages, it is impossible for me to devote in this smaller book a great deal of space in recounting the reasons he advances. After hunting up and reading a good many articles on this gland and its functions, my opinion is that the learned scientist seems to be better informed upon the subject, or at least has written more extensively upon it than any other authority I have yet consulted. This much I have arrived at, that its real functions are not yet wholly understood by anyone. Scientific literature on old age is very scarce, and specific, reliable information upon the thyroid gland is even more diflicult to find. That general, healthy activity of the .entire glandular system is the sine qua non of health, and therefore probably a long life is evident, but that those conditions are dependable upon 200 AND PREVENTION any particular gland is doubtful. Still, as every organ of the body has a special duty to perform it may be that aside from being a factor in our general health, one of the functions of the thyroid gland is to secrete the coloring pigment of the hair. Dr. Lorand does not positively make this statement, but intimates its prob- ability. After three months' practice in stimulating this gland by massage combined with the throat muscle exercises (see chart) I found that my hair became much darker in patches and stripes, but after discontinuing the exercise for two weeks the color disappeared. I then commenced again and in about a week more nearly the same results were ob- tained. Whether degeneration of the thyroid gland is the principal cause of gray hair, as he in- timates, and whether the original color can be permanently regained by stimulating it to activity by massage in connection with ex- ercises of the surrounding muscles, is an in- teresting experiment. If I find that he is right and that exercise is not injurious I will stick to it until I remove the last indications of my age. But if wrong, I will resign myself to the inevitable and go on gray-headed to the end. There is one thing certain, the coloring of the hair must be secreted by some gland and it is just possible that it^is the thyroid. If I eoi OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE succeed in my experiments and it is safe for you to try, I shall subsequently have more to say on this subject. Of other publications of merit upon Old Age and methods of deferring that condition with which I am familiar, the following contain much valuable information: "The Possibility of Living Two Hundred Years," by F. C. Havens; "The Art of Living," by William Kinnear; "The Essays of S. Rowbotham, "How Nature Cures," by Dr. Eiiimet Dens- more; "Health by Good Living," by W. W. Hall,M.D.; "The Book of the Ralston Health Club," and "The Science of Health," by Edwaxd Hooker Dewey, M.D. There are, of course, many more and probably very good ones, but space will not admit of a prolongation of the hst; but after reading those named, as well as the views of a great many other recognized authorities upon the subject, it seems strange that so little importance is attached to muscular activity as a means of accomplishing that which the whole world is seeking. In all ages mankind has vainly en- deavored to restore to the aged human structure by medicinal means the elasticity, strength and vitality characteristic of youth. This has been the disappointed dream of the early alchemist and it is still the faint, wavering hope of science, but as years roll on with the precedent of countless millions of failures and not one 202 AND PREVENTION authenticated success, that hope is becoming fainter and with thinking people, the doubt stronger. Still the great mass blunder on as credulous now of the alleged curative virtues of any widely-advertised medical preparation as they were in the century when Dr. Paracelsus and the other charlatan, Cagliostro, excited all Europe by claiming that they had discovered medicinal preparations (they called them elixirs in those days), by which life could be prolonged indefinitely. At least that was the claim made by Dr. Paracelsus, the quack. Cagliostro was more modest, his "red-elixir" only prolonged life to three hundred years. After them came Ponce de Leon and his fountain of youth. Now we laugh at the credulity of their dupes and then buy at the modern fountains of youth, our drug stores, medical concoctions which, according to the advertisements, cure all the evils flesh is heir to. Barnum was right, people like to be humbugged. It is all very illogical, as if health, strength and elasticity of body and a long life could be purchased at a drug store or obtained by any medical prescription; then the financially rich- est man would be most generously endowed with these, the greatest natural riches in the world, by reason, of course, of his purchasing powers, and the position of drug clerks who had these remedies for sale would be at a premium, for they would have cures for all the evils 203 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE "flesh is heir to" at their elbows and pre- sumably at cost prices. The doctors who administered these medi- cines, knowing their great values, would take them themselves, and as a result be shining examples of their efficiency, and if any one of the thousands of hair restorers advertised would perform what is claimed for them our baldest and richest millionaire would grow a head of hair which would make the spirit of Absalom turn green with envy. But what is the actual situation? The financially richest man is frequently a physical insolvent, and notwithstanding his purchasing powers, often keeping alive upon "the diet of a millionaire," graham crackers and weak tea. And usually neither the doctors who prescribe the medicines, nor the druggist clerks who fill their prescriptions are convincing ex- hibits of their alleged virtues. Manifestly there is something wrong in such a system, and I predict that before the end of the century the allopathic medicinal methods from which I suffered from babyhood until I had reached the half century mark (and commenced to think) will be a thing of the past. The methods of the physician of the future, say in about one hundred years, will be a distinct departure from those which are now in vogue. He will know more of psycho-therapeutics and , avail himself of its possibilities. He will understand AND PREVENTION how Nature cures and will know enough not to hinder that process with medicinal dosings, and after a few thousand more cases like mine (of physipal rejuvenation in advanced years) are brought to the attention of the world, the simple, drugless means by which it has been . accomplished will become too popular to be overlooked. When that period is reached the methods by which I have obtained this success will be a part of his advice towards regaining health and deferring the approach of old age. But supposing all this may come to pass, what will become of the medical profession? The allopathic "dose 'em as long as they will stand for it" type, the kind who formerly made my life miserable, will gradually disappear; they will meet the fate of the Dodo. And that fate will be hastened when very probably some day a law will be enacted re- quiring that all medical prescriptions be written in English or some other understandable lan- guage. And when that time comes it is not difficult to predict the finish of the medical Dodo. For without his purposely mystifying Dog Latin prescriptions he would be in the con- dition of his predecessors, the old-time magician, when shorn of his "black magic" incantations, and the abracadabra, of which medical Dog Latin is the relic. But the drug interests generally will say, nonsense, it is impossible. Is it? Just remember 205 OLD AGE —.1 T S CAUSE the great opposition of interested parties to the pure food law, and in spite of that opposition it passed and the prompt stopping of the manu- facture and sale of harmful foods resulted. The conditions are not dissimilar. After a long personal experience with harmful medicines ad- ministered to me under cover of the Dog Latin prescriptions, and a general feeling of being "mad all over" whenever I think of my ex- periences, I am not so sure that what I suggest is impossible. There are vast numbers of people who feel just as I do about this matter, and such a bill, if presented to Congress, would have an immense support. To many this criticism upon mistaken drug- dosing methods may seem to be uncalled for, yet there are very many thousands of such practitioners who still drench and dope their patients with pills, potions and nostrums usually utterly false, and not infrequently very danger- ous. They retain the antiquated practices from which I suffered throughout my boyhood, and they will not progress or take heed of the plain, effective and easily comprehended methods by which Nature cures. Nor can they realize that the growing tendency of successful practitioners of the healing art is now to reduce the use of drugs to a minimum, substituting therefor common-sense, rational methods, and by so doing giving Nature a chance. To those non- progressives only this diatribe is directed. 206 AND PREVENTION As years roll on drugless practice in the curative art will increase, and ultimately the simple methods by which I have regained my health and physical youth will become more popular with the thinking members of the pro- fession, and when that day comes, instead of my one isolated case of a return to physical youth in advanced years, there will be thousands of such cases. As for the thinking, up-to-date family physician, the man to whom we fly in our physical distress, a good idea would be to do as they are reported to regulate that mat- ter in China. Pay him as long as he keeps you healthy, but promptly veto his bills when you get sick. I think that system would increase the number of capable members of the profession. Anyhow it would certainly eliminate from it a lot of cases of unconscious cerebration who are simply obstacles to health and longevity. In taking up the study of drugless methods of obtaining health and deferring old age, you will experience great difficulty in finding re- liable text books upon the subject. The list given I have found to be valuable in many re- spects, but the great defect in all of them is that so little importance seems to be attached to physical culture methods; that is, neglect to emphasize the great benefits to be derived from general and systematic muscular activity. To help remedy that deficiency, I will add to ieo7 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE the list of valuable books which I have men- tioned, "Bernarr Macfadden's . Encyclopedia of Physical Culture." This is a library by itself. It consists of five large and profusely-illustrated volumes. It is a remarkable collection of in- valuable information upon fasting, diet, ex- ercise and general proven methods of health without drugs. It should be in the library of every progressive, thinking physician, and my advice to every man or woman who needs such a health advisor is to get that Encyclopedia. In its pages will be found the answer to many questions regarding special matters upon which you may desire information, but which as I only write of my own experiences in getting young again, I might not be able to give you. There- fore, I refer you to that Encyclopedia. It is published by the Physical Culture Publishing Company, and all details regarding it will be found in the advertising columns of the Physical Culture Magazine, Flatiron Building, New York. The Subconscious Mind, Its Influence Upon the Body, and Why Christian Science Cures THE question may arise, why should a psychological subject be introduced in a work of this kind? My answer is that the subconscious mind appears to be the immediate, directing power not alone of the mechanism of the human body but of the structure of all animal organisms. It is the lowest form of mind or will power and the force which directly controls cellular life; i. e., the millions of living cells which in the aggregate form our bodies. These cells have an instinct to cling together in certain forms, and whether those forms are in the shape of the human body or other forms of animal life, the cellular structure of which they are composed seems to be under the con- trol or regulated by a low order of will force which, for brevity, I will term the subconscious mind. In some of its manifestations it might be termed the instinctive mind, for it would seem to be a part of the instinct to live, the same instinct or lower will, which directs repairs in bodily injuries. Each cell is a life by itself, 209 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE and as life is but will-power, the aggregation of these millions of cells, all animated by that principle, as a whole must constitute the sub- conscious mind. When this lower mind or will- power abandons those cells , you die and the cellular structure, no longer held together by this controlling force, disintegrates. Above this subconscious mind there is another and superior will or directing power termed the conscious mind; i. e., the thinking mind, the attribute alone of human beings. This is the reasoning power and therefore does not exist in any or- ganism lower than man. This higher mind to a very considerable extent controls the lower or unconscious mind and that in turn influences the mechanism of the body, hence, the power of the human will upon the physical structure, influencing it for good or evil, as it is directed.. The old proverb, "As a man thinketh, so is he," is a concise and truthful statement of the matter. If the theories presented are correct, then the reasons why and how Christian Science cures may be clearer and why the knowledge of this psychological law is a factor in the pro- longation of human life. It will also explain the necessity of will concentration in the muscle- tension exercises I have devised and described in this book, for by that concentration of the higher will-power, upon any set of muscles ex- ercised, a current of the vital principle is there directed, hence, improvement and growth. The 210 AND PREVENTION proof of the truth of this statement is that, after twenty years of continuous experimenting in this direction, I find that with will concen- tration when exercising, improvement of the muscles in size, strength and elasticity is sure and very often rapid, while if there is no con- centration the results are not satisfactory. If there is a determination to succeed and per- sistence in practicing the simple methods de- scribed, success will be yours as it-has been in my case and also in the cases of thousands, of others who have adopted this system, by which I have regained my physical youth at seventy- two. I will go further than this. I am confident that the causation of the thousands of cures effected by Christian Science can be explained along the lines of the theories presented, cures made in the face of scientific, and alleged scientific, opinions that they could not be effected by such means. Science now explains, or tries to explain, the phenomena under the term, auto-suggestion. It was formerly known as faith-cure and under that name has proved its eflSciency in all ages. The king's touch cured scrofula and kindred diseases centuries ago, when kings were in better repute than they are now. Thousands of miraculous cures are to the credit of our Lady of Lourdes, and very probably of many other highly respected saints, faith or auto-suggestion if you will, being at the 811 OLD-AGE — ITS CAUSE bottom of it all, and whether that faith relies upon the healing virtues of some dead saint's bones, the laying on of hands, or what not, it is all under the same psychological law. The remarkable cures performed by the simple methods of this new curative science of thought cannot be laughed down. The teachings of scientific schools were and still are opposed to it, but it has come to stay, and cannot be effectually pooh-poohed or laughed down either by real or alleged scientists. The knowledge and practice of this psychological law of healing is as old as the pyramids, but it remained for Mrs. Mary Eddy to popularize it by appealing to the strongest instinct of our nature, the instinct to worship and rely in our distress upon a higher power, the religious sentiment which in all ages has shaped the destinies of this world. It was an inspiration and in linking a well demon- strated curative psychological law to a re- ligious sentiment, she has placed Christian Science upon an enduring basis and it surely has come to stay. Its tenets certainly stand for the moral betterment of mankind, and as years roll on will be a still greater factor than it is now in relieving the world from the stiipid medicine habit, and in that way, at least, will materially assist in prolonging human life, which medicines never did. I am not a Christian Scientist, at least from a religious standpoint, but i have investigated the phenomena quite 212 AND PREVENTION extensively and have had numerous satis- factory demonstrations of the curative effects of this new thought method. I have no desire to steal any of Mrs, Eddy's thunder or in any way to attack Christian Science, for it has my very best wishes; but I suggest that if a rational system of hygienic laws and an equally rational system of exercise for the body (natural- ly I think my own systeni is the best) were made a part of Christian Science, human life would surely be prolonged and our stay upon this earth made easier and more pleasant, as such a method of life would make us healthier and therefore happier, better neighbors and better friends. Added to this the implicit confidence that there is a well-demonstrated supreme power which, if appealed to, can and will cure distress, either physical or mental, induces a more placid state of mind, banishes the detri- mental worry conditions and therefore is a strong factor in the prolongation of life. These are my reasons for the introduction of this psychological chapter in a work whose object is to show how human life can be prolonged and old age can be deferred. From my in- vestigation of this phenomena it would seem that the fundamental conditions must first be implicit faith that there is a healing power, which if properly invoked, can and will cure or alleviate the physical or mental troubles of the sufferer. Given this receptive and favorable 213 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE attitude, there must also be upon the part of the patient, absolute confidence in some Christian Science practitioner and the sine qua non upon the part of that practitioner must be absolute confidence in his or her own healing powers. Concentration of the higher or conscious minds of the two parties, both willing that the dis- tress shall be removed, evidently influences the lower subconscious mind of the patient and con- sequently has often a most extraordinary and beneficial effect upon the disease. The theory I have advanced would seem to be a reasonable explanation of the process and the reason why Christian Science cures. Auto-suggestion is the scientific explanation of the phenomena in question and is a good scientific term, but just what auto-suggestion is ahd how it affects the bodily structure I have never seen clearly explained, at least without a mass of bewilder- ing scientific terms which are usually somewhat difficult to make clear to the everyday reader in such phraseology, therefore I present my theories free froni all technical terms and as I understand the phenomena. Mrs. Eddy happily avoided this difficulty by presenting the matter without logical or scientific explanation, faith, without question, being the foundation of it all. Her adaption of a known psychological law has found great favor under the title of Christian Science and the wonderful cures effected cer- tainly evidence its success, whether it is called Hi AND PREVENTION auto-suggestion or Christian Science. The tenets of this new thought are based on the teachings of Christ. . They are for the betterment of man- kind and while I am not a reUsionist in any Adverse Criticisms of the Author's State- ments on Christian Science After submitting this chapter to a very able surgeon and scientist, who usually looks over my essays before they are published, his opinion so decidedly opposes my views upon this subject that while I have decided to in- clude the essay in this book, I do so with a great deal of curiosity as to how its readers will receive it. Here is what the Doctor says: "Dear Friend Bennett: "I tried to correct your article upon the subject men- tioned, but it is impossible from a scientifical, psycho- logical standpoint. It is all wrong, and I advise you as a good friend to eliminate this chapter from your new book." Now that is not encouraging. Then I sent it to an editorial friend, who often looks over my writings. Here is what he says: "Dear Bennett: "Your scientific, psychological effort is too much for me, so I turned it over to the scientific expert who re- views such matters for us. He is evidently a good deal interested in your undoubtedly original presentation of the matter, and has sent me a long article, showing con- clusively (to his own satisfaction) why you are all wrong and why he is all right. But I must say that after wrest- 216 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE ling with an avalanche of mystifying scientific terms, which he has fired at me, I feel as if I had "bats in my belfry" and I don't know any more about it than I did before he explained the matter. I will keep your article for a few days to further investigate, and if any of the scientific authorities I have in mind endorse your views we will use it. The idea seems to be original and 'good stuff,' whether you are right or not. If we use it you will be scalded alive by the Christian Science publications, and then I can hereafter address you as my 'steamed friend.' " Now this is a cheerful situation, but I will publish the chapter nevertheless, as I would like to know what somebody else thinks of such an explanation of the phenomena in question. The Duration of Human Life IN this century in the United States the average life of man is 40.85. This figure is arrived at by taking the expectation of Ufe of the average normal person at the age of 22. This data has been kindly furnished me by the West Coast Life Insurance Company of San Francisco, and being from that source it, is undoubtedly correct. But the extreme age to which the human body may attain,- or has attained, is an unsettled question. Fre- quent accounts of men and women passing the century mark by very many years appear in print and are usually accepted without ques- tion, but when the statistics of the insurance companies are consulted upon this point a very significant fact is discovered; i. e., no insur- ance company has ever paid a loss upon the •life of a human being who had lived to the age of 100 years. When it is considered how long the system of life insurance has existed, and taking into account the accurate data collected by these companies, the investigator becomes doubtful of centenarian records, and even still more skeptical as to the cases of the two Englishmen who have the credit of having ' 218 OLDAGE — ITS CAUSE attained the greatest ages recorded, Henry Jenkins, reputed to have died at the age of 169, and Thomas Parr ("old Parr"), 152 years. To any one interested to the extent of hunting up data regarding these cases, and I may add a number of others of lesser celebrity, I refer them to the valuable work of W. J, Thoms, entitled "Longevity of Man," pub-- lished in London in 1873 by John Murray. The numerous statistics there presented bear evidence of long, careful and impartial inves- tigation of a great many records. It contains verification of a very few instances of human beings who have lived a few years past 100, but the Bat contradiction of numerous claims to much greater longevity. The difficulty of either proving or disprov- ing the date of a centenarian's birth is very great. Naturally the questipn at once arises. What is the evidence.'' The requisite would seem to be about as follows: 1st, baptismal certificates; 2d, tombstone inscriptions; 3d, the number of the centenarian's descenda,nts; 4th, the recollections of the centenarians, and 5th, the evidence of old people still hving who knew him or her when they themselves were quite young. The certificate of baptism is generally considered to be the best evidence and beyond dispute, but this is almost always wanting or difficult of verification. Every in- dividual who could have borne testimony has 219 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE passed away, and nothing is left but to trust to his or- her statements, with secondary and circumstantial evidence, and this is usually hearsay. In another old book published in England in 1865, entitled "Man's Age in the World," by an Essex rector, the following records are given: Thomas Parr, A. D. 1635, age 152; Henry Jenkins, A. D. 1670, aged 169; Mary Billinge, A. D. 1863, aged 112, and the Coun- tess of Desmond, 140 years. I will take the case of Mary Billinge first, reported to have reached the age of 112, quoting from a most thorough and exhaustive search published in the London Times, 1865. It was demonstrated beyond question that she was born November 6, 1772, and died in 1863, so was but 91 years old at her death. And in the cases of Thomas Parr and Henry Jenkins, after long and care- ful search, the verdict is that in both cases there is also an uncertainty of evidence. The statement is made that Henry Jenkins, of EUerton-upon-Swale, a laborer, was born in 1501 and died September 9, 1670. The mass of data is too long to print, but boiled down it amounts to this: It rests upon no better evi- dence than ^Jenkins's own statements, and I regret to say that is a rule which usua,lly ob- tains in the majority of these reported instances of. extreme longevity. In the case of Thomas Parr, known all over 22u AND PREVENTION England as "old. Parr," he was reported to have been born at .Winnington in the parish of Aldersbury, England, and died November 16, 1635, or having, if this record is correct, attained the age of 152 years. Now did he actually live to this age? The facts appear to show that it is largely hearsay based upon his own statements, and there is no verified data to substantiate this. The same may be said of the Countess of Desmond, reputed to have reached the age of 140 years. The author of "Longevity of Man," after careful research, was unable to verify that record, but did find the date of her death to be A. D. 1604, and her probable age to be 100 years. In the course of my readings upon this sub- ject I find the following in the writings of a very distinguished investigator and authority upon this, subject. Sir George Lewes, of Eng- land. I quote his statement: "Limiting our- selves to the time since the Christian era, no person of royal or noble rank whose birth was recorded at the time of the occurrence reached the age of 100 years, and I am not aware that the modern peerage and baronetage books contain any such case resting upon authentic evidence." This does not prove that the dura- tion of Hfe in this apparently favored class is below the average. On the contrary. As an evidence, the Journal of the Statistical 221 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE Society of London, under the date of March, 1863, pages 49 to 71, pubUshed a long article on the rate of mortality among the families of the English peerage during the nineteenth century. This data showed conclusively that the average mean duration of life among that class is throughout materially greater than that of the general English population. Now, even with the advantage of enviroijment pre- sumably favorable to the prolongation of life, not any member of the nobility had reached 100 years, and in the baronetage there is only one case. Catherine, daughter of Sir John Eden, Bart., born February 10, 1771, died March 19, 1872; therefore she had lived 101 years. This is the only certain case in that class of favored English life reaching and passing the century mark. Referring again to the records of English life assurance, the policies paid upon the greatest ages are: The Pelican Life Assurance Com- pany, one case at 97; Royal Exchange, one at 97; the Amicable, one at 97; Equitable, one at 95; Albion, one at 95; Rock, one at 94; Imperial, one at 94; Union, one at 94; Atlas, one at 92; Law, one at 92; Sun, one at 92; and London, one at 90. But there is no record of any policy having been paid. upon any life at 100 years. And I find after going over the data care- fully that from 1670 to 1857 no solitary in- 222 AND PREVENTION stance has occurred of a person who had in- sured his Hfe attaining a greater age than 97 years. Another significant fact is devel- oped that most of the cases of reputed cen- tenarians are inmates of some charitable insti- tution or people of another race, not readily located, and lacking authentic credentials of their great age. These are a few of the stum- bling, blocks which the investigator in this field, endeavoring to prove that human beings can live beyond a hundred years, encounters. The question is one of interest to all, but when the mass of data which the writer has looked up for the past five years is summarized, this is the result: The human body does not retain the vital principle beyond 100 years, except in the very rarest cases, and then but for one or two years past the century limit. I wish to be- lieve that man has lived to 152 and 169 years, as claimed by various writers who cite the cases of Thomas Parr and Henry Jenkins,. but all data collected flatly contradicts those statements. Believers in the literal truth of the Bible will probably instance the records of Methu- selah, 969 years; Abraham, 175, and Isaac 180, as proving that man in Biblical times lived to a much greater age than now. This is doubt- ful. Jesus, the son of Sirach, said, "The number of a man's days are at the most an hundred years," giving evidence of what was believed to be the limit of human life in his day. And 223 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE in the words of the Psalmist, "The days of our age are three score years and ten, and though men be so strong that they come to four score years, yet is their strength then but labor and sorrow so soon passeth it away and we are gone." Here we have unmistakable testimony as to what was then believed to be the average dura- tion of human life, and what was true as to the number of our days upon the earth when those words were written the centuries which have since eslapsed have not changed. While the general average of life, according to insur- ance tables, has been prolonged under favor- able circumstances, three score years and ten is still the average, and 100 years the extreme age of man. The claim that Methuselah lived to the age of 969 years is explainable only by the hy- pothesis that the method of reckoning time then was the same as that of all primitive peo- ple who reckon by moons, just as our Indians still do. Under this system Methuselah's age reduced to moons or lunar months would be one-twelfth of 969, or say about 80 years, which is probably correct, the conditions of life in those days not being conducive to great age. The next progressive stage in the marking of time was most probably the discovery of the equinoxes in spring and autumn, when day and night are exactly of the same length. This assumption being correct would give five months 224 AND PREVENTION of thirty days each, and upon this basis of a year of 150 days, Abraham's 175 years would be cut down to 72, and Isaac's 180 to 74. In this way alone could these extraordinary age^ be explained. No organic or structural change has taken place in the human body, as shown in mummies and other anatomical relics of past centuries, which would account for the enormous difference in the duration of human life claimed in Biblical times and as it now exists, and certainly the dietary and sanitary conditions, as well as our greater knowledge of hygienic laws, have made the possibilities for the prolongation of human life much more favorable in this age than they were when those Biblical characters lived. The question naturally rises, is it possible to generally prolong the life of man; that is, to add one-quarter or even a greater percentage of years to its present apparent limitations.'' If the cause of physical deterioration can be removed or prevented this would seem possible. First, I will again present the cause of physical age as outlined in the opening chapters of this book. It is simply the clogging up of the ar- teries, the venous system, and their capillaries with worn-out cells and calcareous matter; i. e.; the debris and ash resultant of the process of life. If this system of tubing, which is really the plumbing of the body, can be kept free from clogging matter, that body will remain young, 225 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE and even after physical age has appeared, physical rejuvenation is possible even at three score years and ten, as demonstrated in my own person. "For a man is surely as old only as his arteries," and my arteries and tissues are now young. As the tubes of a boiler become clogged up arid incapacitated by deposits of 'calcareous matter, so do the arteries and veins of the human body. Free them from those clogging deposits and it is possible to prolong life past that period which we now assume to be its limitation. A correct system of diet will aid the diges- tive organs, and temperate habits in all direc- tions are conducive to health and longevity, but still if there is a lack of general muscular activity by which the ashes of the system are expelled from the body, life cannot be materially prolonged. The systematic alternate contraction and re- laxation of the muscles, as described at length in this book, mechanically forces out this clog- ging matter into the avenues for its elimination, from which it is expelled from the body by the natural processes of excretion, and in no other way can this be accomplished. This is not a matter of theory without proof, as I have demon- strated its truth by actual practice and success in the rejuvenation of my own body long before I had learned the reason why. But this system 226 AND PREVENTION of expelling the clogging debris or ashes must be general and complete, for as well may you clean one part of a watch, leaving the rest dirty, and then expect that it will keep good time under those conditions, as to cleanse one-half of the muscular system, leaving the others equally important clogged up. For that reason this method of exercising is designed for the purpose, and does exercise every large muscle of the body, and indirectly bringing all organs into activity, thereby insuring the greatest riches the world can offer — ^health. . By persistent practice upon the lines as described I have accomplished my physical rejuvenation at threescore years and ten, and by it, if no accident shall occur, I confidently expect to verify the truth of the statement of Jesus, the son of Sirach, "The number of a man's days are at most an hundred years." And why, if the process of repair and elimination can be kept upon an equilibrium, is it not possible- to live to double that age? My answer is wholly illogical and without explanation: Because there seems to be an occult law preventing such extraordinary longevity of human life. There is no authentic record that it has ever occurred, and it does not seem that it can be. In the economy of the universe certain limitations of our knowledge and possibilities of life seem to be fixed, and beyond that limit we cannot pass. At least, my researches have led me to think so. 227 Cross Section of Skin, Sliowing Hair-Shaft and Attached Muscles 223 The Hair TO understand the cause of the loss of hair and how to prevent that misfortune, it is necessary to know how the hair itself is formed, and how nourished, and the conditions favorable or unfavorable to its growth. Having learned this, the methods by which its loss can be arrested, and vitality regained, may be more readily comprehended and successfully practiced. Facing this page appears an illustration which shows a transverse section of the skin of the scalp. This is taken from a greatly enlarged photograph, showing very clearly how the hair shaft, with its minute muscles and capillaries, appears under the microscope. The illustration exhibits a single hair; it is a tube composed of the same element as the nails or the bones. The secretions by which all three are formed are the same, and they do not appear to decrease as age advances. Therefore the immediate cause of the loss of hair would seem to be, and usually is, local. Tight or heavy hats, dissipation, sexual excesses, weakness of the muscles which are attached to each root of hair, defective circu- lation, uncleanliness of the scalp, microbes or OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE germ diseases in the scalp, and failure to reniove dead hairs which impede the growth of new ones; any of these may produce baldness. Remove the cause, or causes; follow the simple directions contained in this chapter; and where- ever life remains in the follicles, or hair roots, new hairs will sprout. But if lile has departed from them no power on earth can grow hair. If the trouble is constitutional, or from any cause which tends to lessen the vital forces, prac- tice the simple system of physical culture I have already described. The result will surely be an improvement in the general physical condition, and a pro- portionate improvement in the health of the hair. The coloring matter is generated in the hair bulb, and from there forced up through the tubular hair shaft. The chara,cter of the se- cretions determines the color of the hair. What the chemical combinations which produce that color are, we do not know; but as years increase, there is evidently a chemical change in the secretions, which causes a loss of the coloring matter. My own experience, and the result of sixteen years' research in this direction is, that it is not possible to restore the color when it has once departed, all of the preparations ad- vertised for that purpose, with the thousands of testimonials to their infallibility, to the con- trary. I will modify that statement: you can 230 AND PREVENTION restore it with dyes, but the deception is sure to be detected sooner or later, and, added to this, the dye will injure the hair. The scalp is similar to the face or any other part of the body. It is filled with thousands of little pores, which are constantly eliminating refuse matter; in addition to which the se- baceous glands throw off a certain amount of oil which" adheres to the scalp. This dirt and ani- mal filth must be removed, or the pores will be clogged — a condition which is very injurious. When the hair is long, as usually worn by women, the scalp should be thoroughly cleaned at least twice a month; or, if of the ordinary length worn by men, at least twice a week. The best soap for the purpose is that used by bar- bers for shaving, as it seems least injurious to the skin. Don't be afraid of water and good soap. Thousands lose their hair through neglecting to shampoo it properly. On the other hand, it is doubtful if any injury can result by the opposite extreme, provided the hair is thorough- ly dried after the cleansing process. When dry, a few drops of olive oil will produce an at- tractive and healthy gloss. The use of hot and cold water, alternating quickly from one ap- plication to the other, is of great value as a tonic for both hair and scalp, as it accelerates the circulation of the blood in the parts so treated. iSl OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE Haye the temperature of the heated water as hot as you can bear it, and the other as cold as possible without using ice; hot and cold wet cloths applied alternately is a convenient sub- stitute, if you cannot douse your head with the water itself. The change from hot to cold should be made at least five or six times at each treat- ment, but double that number will be beneficial and can do no harm. If life still remains in the roots of the hair a healthy growth will usually result. The tonic effect of this process is far more eflScacious than any medicinal "hair in- vigorator".yet invented. If the scalp is itchy, and there is a suspicion that microbes or germs of disease exist on it, dampen it with a carbolic acid wash. To one pint of water add a sufficient quantity of carbolic acid to produce, when the skin is moistened with the lotion, a very slight sensa- tion of tingling, or heat. This treatment will, with daily applications, require about three weeks. It will surely destroy any germs of disease with which the scalp may be affected. It is an excellent tonic as well as an infallible and clean germicide, harmless, in the pro- portions advised, and superior to any advertised expensive hair tonic or germicide which you may purchase, but when the itching has ceased, stop. When the hair is falling out many people are afraid to brush or wash it, fearing a still greater 232 AND PREVENTION loss, and thinking to retain the dead hairs in the scalp. This is a serious mistake, as those dead hair roots, like any other decaying dead matter, are injurious to the healthy roots near them, and if allowed to remain increase the trouble. They should be removed for the same reason that de- cayed fruit is removed from its healthy neigh- bors. Dead and decaying matter is a menace to the life of a hair, just as, upon a larger scale, dead matter and unsanitary conditions are a menace to the life of a human being. In addition to these injurious effects of the dead roots, they impede the growth of new hairs which would spring up in the place of the dead ones, but which cannot do so while the dead roots remain. Remove the dead hairs as soon as possible, and other healthy hairs will replace them, springing from the same follicle, or root sheath. The process is simple: As I lie in bed I grasp my hair with my fingers, pulling gently, and changing the position of my hands until every- part of the scalp has been treated. I alternate this pulling process by massaging the scalp with the tips of the fingers, which produces a perceptible glow, and has a general tonic effect, as it stimulates the cir- culation, and evidently determines the elements which feed the hair to the roots. By this hair- pulling process the scalp is hghtly raised, from the skull. The microscopic muscles and glands thus exercised, and obeying the general law 233 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE of exercise, increase in size, strength and elasticity, just as the larger muscles of the body are benefited by systematic exercise. Go without your hat as much as possible. The practice is now popular, being a fashion- able fad, and no longer specially' noticeable. The sun has a very invigorating effect upon the hair. Baldness, among the races that do not wear hats, is almost unknown;— but among the peasants or farmers in southern Germany, who wear their hats op caps day and night, bald- ness, without regard to age, is the rule rather than the exception. I have lived in an Indian country and I do not remember of ever having seen a bald-headed Indian. That is a hint from Nature. Many people are afraid to use soap and water upon their hair, and quote self-constituted authorities in support of the statement that their use is injurious. Why should water be bad fo** the hair of the head but good for the hair of the beard or moustache? Such a contention is not logical, for the hair on the head and the hair on the face are identically the same; and it is certainly a most unusual occurrence for a man's beard to fall out unless caused by some local germ disease. That the beard is luxuriant in some individuals, while the scalp is devoid of hair, is to be accounted for by the fact that such men wash their faces and beard daily, and, in the drying process pull and exercise the roots; 234 A N D PREVENTION after which they brush it to keep it arranged. In this way they remove the dead hairs. As the skin is kept clean, by the face-washing proc- ess, the conditions are favorable to the preser- vation of the hair upon that part of the head, even though the scalp may be bald. Another mistaken belief is that when dan- druff falls from the scalp it indicates a diseased condition. Dandruff is merely the exfoliation of the scarf, or .outer skin, with the dried oil and waste matter thrown off by the glands. The practice of the methods described will certainly relieve the trouble. One of the arguments against washing the hair is that it causes or increases dandruff. The fact is, the dandruff was there before the scalp was washed, and the cleansing process merely dislodged it, so that its presence was more apparent. Perspiration has a very injurious effect upon the hair. Athletes, especially, are sufferers from it, as they usually come in from long runs or other active exercise with the perspiration dripping from their every pore, the hair being as wet as the rest of the body. While particular efforts are made to bathe and cleanse every other part of their bodies, the scalp is neglected, the poisonous dead matter being allowed to remain and dry where it was eliminated. It is this neglect which is often noticeable among those whose excellent physical condition, due to 235 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE athletic training, would seem to be a guarantee that the poor condition of their hair is not due to constitutional weakness. Use daily a stiff brush; press the bristles well in; rub back and forth, and from side to side, thus loosening the dead skin, dried oil, etc., before trying to brush them off the head in the usual way. Have the hair trimmed often; the ends may split if this is neglected. Don't singe it. I do not believe the practice to be injurious, but it is simply a useless and expensive process, which can "be better accomplished with the shears. The methods I have described are all logical; they are certainly inexpensive and easily performed, and I know from personal experience they are effective. Practice them as I have done and you need not fear the loss of your hair. The Reduction of an Obese Abdomen FAT has been termed the packing of the body; and, while it is necessary to have sufficient of that packing to fill up the interstices of the muscles, thus presenting the roundness of the body and limbs character- istic of health and youth, an excess is undesirable and frequently becomes a very serious affliction. Where there is a tendency to "take on fat" it is usually deposited in greater quantities upon the abdomen than upon any other part of the body, for the reason that the fat, being inert tissue, naturally gravitates to the point of least activity. The legs, arms and back being con- stantly exercised in the ordinary habits of life, do not offer such a favorable resting place for fat as the abdomen, upon which the deposit will first appear; consequently, in persons of sedentary habits, we frequently find attenuated limbs in marked contrast to an obese abdomen. To remedy this unsatisfactory condition, various methods of diet are practiced. Of these the well-known systems of Banting and Schwen- ninger are probably the best. They are pub- lished in book form, and anyone interested can obtain them at most book stores. In many 237 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE * cases of corpulence the practice of these meth- ods of diet, if adhered to persistently, will finally effect the desired result; but the danger in them is that the reduction of the system in general often produces a weakened condition which affects the heart. Added to this, the reduction of the fatty tissue, being general, is not especially directed to any particular part of the body, and the discomfort entailed in the practice of the systems does not invite its universal adoption. Furthermore; they involve a great deal of self-denial. My experience is that the method I practice and describe, in the following pages, is more effective, less troublesome, and without danger. It is not definitely known what fat really is, or what is its cause. A carbohydrate diet, that is, such as contains starch or sugar in some form, usually produces the trouble; but, when the system has a well-defined tendency to form fat in excess of its normal condition, a course of dieting and attendant self-denial may not al- ways be successful. We frequently hear cor- pulent people complain that "everything they eat turns to fat," which in a great measure often appears to be true. Fat would seem to be un- developed tissue, formed in the ordinary proc- ess of digestion and assimilation, but upon reaching a certain stage is arrested in its further development, and, instead of becoming living cellular tissue, changes to this inert substance 238 AND PREVENTION known to physiology as adipose tissue, or fat. When, from some unknown cause, an ab- normal tendency has developed, causing an over supply of this form of tissue, it is doubtful if the remedy lies alone in diet. Muscular activity and agitation at the point of excessive deposit is probably the most di- rect, surest, easiest and safest method of its elimination. This activity has the same effect upon such deposits as it has upon worn-out and clogging dead tissue, which I have ex- plained can be forced from the point of lodg- ment by the alternate contraction and relax- ation of the muscles. In short, by the ex- ercise I practice and have described, fatty tissue, when thus dislodged, is carried off by the ordinary process of excretion; and my experi- ence has been that, under no circumstances is it possible to convert it into muscular tissue. Obesity is evidently caused by local in^ activity, and that being the case, the only logical and successful remedy would seem to be muscular activity or agitation, where the fatty deposit is situated. Walking is highly recommended and is undoubtedly beneficial; but it is only an indirect means of attacking the trouble, the motion of the legs not especially bringing into action the muscles of the abdomen, which are covered by the fatty deposit. There- fore, some more direct means of forcing into activity, and thereby dislodging this accumu- OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE lation of inert adipose tissue, would be more effective. It is a logical deduction that, if the fat is accumulated by reason of sluggish surround- ings, then any method which changes that condi- tion to one of activity, will remedy the trouble. The method I have found most effectual is massage while the abdominal muscles are tensed. The process will be more readily comprehended by full instructions which follow. Fat is really carbon and the phenomena of spontaneous combustion — the cause of many mysterious fires — ^is a familiar illustration of the method by which fat is consumed in the system and why exercise of the muscles or friction of the fatty deposit will remove it. When the muscles are exercised, that is, alternately con- tracted and relaxed, or vigorously rubbed, there is an increased flow of blood to that point, and therefore an increase of oxygen, as the red cor- puscles of which the blood is composed consist largely of oxygen; these, coming in contact with the carbon or fatty deposit, burn it up. This is the simple explanation of the phenomena. The pumping action of the muscles in their alternate contraction and relaxation expels the ashes,' or debris resulting from this combustion, into the venous and glandulous system and it is then carried off by the ordinary excretions of the body. Briefly the remedy for fat is muscular activity, and the exercises described are a safe, easy and effectual cure for it. 240 Exercises for the Reduction of an Obese Abdomen TENSE the muscles of the abdomen; place the palms of the hands upon it; press down firmly, and rub the accumulation of fat back and forth, not permitting the hands to slip. Otherwise the skin only will be rubbed, and no benefit results. Vary this process by striking the abdomen rapidly with your clenched fists, alternately contracting and relaxing the abdominal muscles. The act of contracting is easily accomplished by raising the head. These exercises are a very effective method of attacking the objectionable deposit, and if systematically and persistently practiced, will certainly achieve satisfactory results. Both of these exercises can be performed most easily and effectively in a recumbent position in bed. Why adipose tissue disappears under this treatment is explained in the preceding chapter entitled, "The Reduction of an Obese Ab- domen." 241 The Flabby Cheeks of Old Age 242 The Rejuvenation of the Face, Throat and Neck THE exercises I have described, if persist- ently and methodically practiced, will surely restore to an aged body much of the lost strength and elasticity of an earlier period of life; for it is possible in this way to restore to the muscles of age the rounded contour they may have once possessed. But if the muscles, especially of the face and neck, are neglected, they will present the relaxed and flabby condition characteristic of old age, even though the rest of the body has been developed to the strength of an athlete. The face and the neck, even while one is in vigorous training, may show the wear and deterioration of years, in marked contrast to the apparently more youthful body. ^ It is therefore necessary to exercise those muscles just as you have exercised the muscles of the body, and they will surely grow in size, strength and elasticity if so trained. The hollow places in the neck and cheeks can be filled up, the muscles which surround the eyes can be increased in plumpness, and, with a treatment I will now describe, that smoothness us OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE of skin characteristic of youth may, to a very considerable extent, be regained. And this much-to-be-desired condition can be accompHshed without cost and without the ap- pHcation of any "skin foods" or other nonsensi- cal preparations of the kind. The process of digestion and assimilation alone can form the cellular tissue of which our bodies are built; and the lanoline, lard, paraflfine, etc., which are usually the basis of these so-called "skin foods" are simply smeared on the skin and are not absorbed to any appreciable extent; nor can they be converted into cellular tissue by any amount of rubbing. The skin and muscles, ab- solutely, cannot be "fed" in that way or with such material, and any improvement in the ap- pearance of the skin which seems to result from their use, is due solely to the friction required in applying the supposed nutriment. If a face ointment is desired, use pure olive oil, or any good face cream; they will soften the outer skin, are cleanly, and, after being rubbed off, will leave it clear and soft. The true secret of restoring to the skin the smoothness of youth is friction. The skin can be polished and the wrinkles rubbed out like any other piece of leather, and the palms of the hands and the tips of the fingers are the very best tools to use for that purpose. This polish- ing, wrinkle-removing process can best be done while you lie comfortably in bed, as in that 244 AND PREVENTION position it is easier, less fatiguing and you can get at the wrinkles more readily when lying down than when either sitting or standing. But before commencing this system of facial rejuvenation it might be well to disabuse your- self of the idea that you can "build up" the muscles of the cheeks, chin, neck and throat or to form living tissue by attempting to "rub in" skin foods. This has been the unquestion- ing belief and practice of womankind in all ages; (and at the risk of being excommunicated) I will add, at all ages. Of course, my statement that it is impossible will be regarded as rank heresy by every woman who reads this chapter. But when you consider Nature's method of building the human structure, the fallacy of such a proposition must be evident. Every part of the body is composed of millions of infini- tesimal living cells (or cellular tissue). These cells are the result of the digestive functions and as this process is only carried on in the stomach and digestive tract, they cannot come into be- ing by any other method, and the idea that the cheeks, throat or neck can be nourished or built up by rubbing in, or attempting to run into the skin and muscles lanohne, paraffine, lard or any of the greasy ingredients which are the basis of "skin foods" is as logical as the "hair seed" industry. At what stage in digestion food is transformed into life we do not know. But we do know that living tissue can only be formed 245 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE by the digestive process, hence the folly of applying skin food preparations for that pur- pose — it is an absurdity. As an advertising scheme the title is an in- spiration, but under the light of scientific reasoning it is awful nonsense, and it is im- possible that you can build up any part of the human structure by such means. If the reader is a woman I realize that this attack upon a feminine custom, which is as old as the sphinx, will receive a welcome about as cordial as my opinion upon the drug business; but I sincerely regret to say that I am right. If by rubbing "skin foods" into the skin it is possible to plump up one's cheeks, throat and chin, and in that way generally fix up and make one's self beautiful, a kind of physical millennium would ensue, for all of the skinny people would soon become attractively plump. It is too bad that it don't work, and I am just as sorry as you are. Why it does not can be readily ascer- tained by reading up on the subject in any standard work upon physiology. Of course, what I say is rank heresy, and I ought to be either fried or scrambled for telling you this unpleasant truth, because pretty much all of you ladies have invested in that kind of merchandise. But it is the unvarnished truth. I found it out long ago by pottering over works upon physiology, and if there is any objection to my statement I will appeal the case to those AND PREVENTION authorities. But you will say "when I rubbed skin foods upon my face, cheeks and throat it did improve their appearance,; my skin was fresher and smoother, and I looked younger." Certainly you did — just for the same reason that the simple friction methods I advise will improve your facial appearance, and if you keep up the practice it will "stay put" and not "wash oflf." Neither will rain or fogs spoil a complexion obtained in that way. The reason skin foods thoroughly "rubbed in" give that fresh, smooth look to the skin and why the' wrinkles grow less under that process is the result of what is termed in slang "elbow grease"; that is, persistent friction of the skin, and plenty of it, using the palms of the hands and tips of the fingers. In that way you will surely improve your facial appearance. If after this explanation you still think the benefit lies solely in the "skin foods" which you have made or bought and' are endeavoring to "rub in," by all means continue to use them. The direct benefit of the preparation is similar to that derived from the use of axle grease or pil in the operation of machinery — it prevents chafing. Therefore, continue u§ing "skin foods," if you please; they are just as good for that purpose as the very much cheaper articles I suggest, but no better. The benefits of such greasy preparations lie only in their efiiciency as lubricants; i. e.,.in preventing the skin 247, OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE from becoming chafed, in the rubbing process. If they are simply applied to the face or throat without friction no beneficial results will be obtained other than that the grease, etc., will fill up the minute lines and temporarily smooth the surface, but when this coating is washed oflF the skin will resume its former condition and appearances. This in a way is but a repe- tition of the matter presented in the chapter upon the skin. But it will bear repeating. The usual objection made to the friction process I advise is that the skin might loosen and the pores might become enlarged. If you go at it too vigorously that is very possible. But if care is taken it will not happen and even if it did, as soon as the minute muscles and structure of the skin tone iip under the stimulating treatment that condition will speed- ily disappear and improvement will surely result. In commencing the friction treatment and to keep the skin in place while you rub, stretch the skin with the first and second fingers of one hand and rub with the other, or the palm of the hand. The points which will probably need first attention will be the corners of the eyes, mouth, temples and immediately forward of the ears. To prevent chafing, some lubricant must, of course, be applied at the points you are rubbing — "skin food," if you please, but any smooth face cream will be just as effective. Don't go at this method of facial rejuvenation 248 AND PREVENTION too energetically. If you do you will get sore and discouraged. The same rule applies to massaging the face and throat as to any other system of ex- ercise. Go slow. Stick to it and you will succeed. Before telling you how to develop the muscles which support the cheeks and round out the chin, jaws and throat, I will give you a "wrinkle" in removing wrinkles, which I think you will find very satisfiactory, also very cheap. I have forgotten from whom I stole the idea, but as I have never seen it in any modern beauty book and no one seems to claim it, I will transfer the credit of its discovery to the first female president of the United States. The use of an astringent for toning up or shrinking up the loose skin of age, and in that way removing wrinkles, is a custom also dear to the feminine heart, but the after results are often an un- pleasant roughness. There is a far better and more simple way, and it should be practiced after the friction process. To understand the why and the how, I will ask you to remember "grandmother's method" of "bringing a boil to a head." She simply pasted the skin of an egg evenly all over the boil. Inside of a quarter of an hour that egg skin commenced to "draw" ; that is, to shrink up and as it contracted the result was a steady, even pressure towards thie center. If you have had that experience you will know what I mean without further explanation; also you will agree with me when I say that the 249 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE only place where the process could be endured with equanimity was upon some other fellow. The astringent or shrinking process I will de- scribe is upon the same principle. The skin of an egg is of the same nature as the white, the only material difference being that the latter is liquid and when it is dried it, too, becomes a kind of skin. In that drying process it shrinks evenly all over, just as the egg skin did when it was pasted upon the hot, throbbing boil. Apply that process to shrinking up the loose skin or wrinkles of the face, but use the white of the egg, and the same results will be obtained. It is a powerful mechanical astringenL Therefore, instead of the skin of the egg use the liquid white, as I have stated. This apply all over your face, wherever the wrinkles appear, using for convenience a shaving brush. Then let it dry and remain for five minutes, more or less. It is such a strong astringent that it should remain on the skin only a short time, as it may otherwise cause the skin to shrivel. Then rinse it off with pure, warm water. It will readily dis- solve and you will be surprised at the smooth- ness of your skin. If it shines or stings from the contracting process, apply a few drops of face cream, then rub clean, and if you desire, as a final beauty finish, a very little face powder will correct that and give the final artistic touch. This method is good, cheap and effectual, but, as has been stated, should be used with caution. 2S0 Muscles Surrounding the Eyes .251 Muscles of the Throat — ^Relaxed 252 Developing the Muscles Covering the Chin and Jaws The Chin THE cushion of muscles, which covers and rounds the chin bone in most cases is involuntary; that is, without practice the muscles are not capable of motion at will. Still they can, to a limited extent, be contracted upward when the teeth are firmly set. This cushion of muscles is under the same law as those supporting the cheeks, and by vigorous massage with the palms of the hands— when thus contracted will soon respond, and if the chin was ever round and full in youth that con- dition may be regained to a very considerable extent, and this result will be attained much more rapidly than is the case with the cheek muscles. Why this is so is not altogether clear to me, but it is a fact that sluggish, involuntary muscles do respond more quickly to compulsory activity — ^that is, by firm, deep massage-^than those which have been accustomed to activity, either unconsciously or by the direction of the will, probably just as improvement is very much more rapid in the first stages of training for any athletic event than it is later on when the tissues have been "fined down," 253 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE As an instance of my success in developing the chin muscles I again refer to the portrait illustration used as the frontispiece of this book, calling attention to the full, round chin there shown, and then ask comparison with the same feature in the photograph taken twenty-r two years prior, or at the age of fifty. The full- face anatomical plate upon page 251 will show you the position and character of the chin muscles. The Jaws By reference to the anatomical plate, side view of the face and neck muscles, on page 252, you will notice that the jaws are covered by broad, flat, muscular bands, com- mencing underneath the jaw bqiie and running upward toward the cheek bones, to which they are attached. The character of the face is very largely dependent upon the shape of the jaws, and if those covering muscles have shrunken, as they usually do in advanced years, the skin will hang loose over them, giving the appearance of age. These jaw muscles readily respond and can be developed by deep massage. This should be practiced along the edge of the jaw bone, using the heel of the hand. This treatment will speedily tone up and increase the size of these muscles, thus giving a rounded and more youthful appear- ance to the lines of the jaws. 9t5i The Muscles of the Cheeks AS years creep on the cheeks sink in and hollows appear where once they were ■■ full and plump. This is due to the shrinking of the supporting muscles, shown in the illustration facing page 253. There are four of these muscles on each side of the face. As we grow older these muscles lose their strength and elasticity, and this change produces the pendant or loose jowl characteristic of age, just as their lessened size is the cause of the hollows in the cheeks. These are voluntary muscles and can be exercised at will, just as you can exercise the muscles of the arms and legs and just as exercise of any part of the body will improve Jt, so exercise of the muscles of the face will ha!^e the same effect. A system or series of movements devised for that pur- pose has often been described in various essays and books upon the art of becoming beautiful. The method is styled "facial gymnastics, or making faces." It has some merit, and if faithfully and persistently practiced might, to a considerable extent, build up and strengthen the muscles of the face. The objection is that the exercises are very fatiguing and require 255 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE long practice before satisfactory results can be obtained. The further objection sometimes advanced is that they may cause new lines. After experi- menting a long time with these exercises I have not found this to be the case, and they cer- tainly do strengthen the cheek muscles. But the most serious objection is that progress is too slow for the system ever to become very popular. A far better and quicker method is a mas- sage system which I have devised and practice while the cheek muscles are contracted. By this satisfactory results can be obtained in a very short time, and with very little trouble. First familiarize yourself with the position of these cheek muscles. Referring to the ana- tomical illustration on page 252, you will notice that there are eight long muscles, four on each side. They are attached to the cheek bones immediately below the eyes, from there de- scending to become attached to the wide mus- cular band surrounding the mouthi You can contract these cheek muscles at will, this action forming a bunch on the cheek bones under the eyes. Another very broad and strong muscle un- derlies these cheek supporting muscles. It, too, is fastened to the cheek bones but, extending downward, is attached along the jaw bone. This may be termed the chewing muscle, and, 256 AND PREVENTION while it plays an important part in supporting the cheeks and determining their contour, it cannot be contracted or exercised at will, except in the act of chewing. Its action is in- dependent of the cheek muscles, although when they are contracted upward some tension is placed upon it. In youth these muscles are, or should be, strong, elastic and supporting the tissue and skin overlying them, giving to the cheeks the full, round appearance characteristic of that period of life. As years advance, through lack of exercise they shrink and lose their former size, strength^ and elasticity, just as any muscle of the body will do under like con- ditions. The skin covering, then losing its support, falls into the creases and lines we know as wrinkles. These are the certain indications of physical age, as they tell the tale of the shrunken mus- cles underlying. For these wrinkles, wasted chin, and hollow cheeks there can be but one cure, and that is the restoration to the sup- porting muscles of their former plumpness and strength. If this is not done any efforts toward the eradication of the disfiguring lines and attempts to fill up the hollow cheeks will be futile, all alleged remedies in the way of "skin foods," medical preparations, etc., to the contrary. It is true that by a system of dietj and espe- 257 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE cially by drinking copiously of milk, an in- crease of fatty tissues can be obtained. The face under this dietary regime will become more plump and the surface of the skin smoother, but if the underlying muscles are not developed the face will still present a flabby look, the jowl may sag and the appearance of a double chin be more pronounced. These facial indications of physical age are not especially the signs of ad- vanced years, being principally due to lack of exercise of the supporting facial muscles. During the last five years, or since the publi- cation of my first essays upon the art of physical and facial rejuvenation, I have been constantly experimenting in this direction, hoping to devise some simple, eflFective and inexpensive method to accomplish this very much desired result, and which could be practiced by one's self. It seemed to me evident that the secret lay in developing the supporting muscles by exercise. The facial gymnastics described did help, but, as stated, I found them much too slow in results. Facial massage as usually practiced is super- ficial. It certainly freshens up the skin, but it does not and cannot deyelop these deep- seated supporting muscles. Muscular activity, directed by your own will, can alone accom- plish this. And that is a matter which must be performed by yourself. Here the pauper and the millionaire are upon an equality. No one can exercise for you, nor can any 258 AND PREVENTION amount of rubbing by an attendant accomplish the beneficial results which may be obtained by your own efforts. The apparent explanation of the speedy en- largement of the muscles if "deeply massaged" when they are contracted, would seem to be, that the network of blood vessels and myriads of capillaries which thread all structures of the body become distended by blood and lymph forced there when the muscles are contracted and vigorously rubbed, this distension account- ing for the rapid but at first temporary increase in size of the muscles so treated. The effect may be termed a healthy congestion, as no evil ever results; and by persistent practice this temporary enlargement becomes permanent, the cheeks then assuming and retaining the full, round appearance characteristic of youth. - I do not claim that large muscles produced by this method indicate great strength, but as a means of speedily filUng up the cheeks, rounding out the chin and the muscles covering the jaws, no other method yet devised will at all compare to it in efficiency. There may be another, or additional cause for the sometimes remarkable and speedy in- crease in the size of the muscles so treated; that is to say, independent of the effect pro- duced by distending the blood vessels through the forced increase of blood and lymph. In the chapter upon the effect of the will in exer- 259 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE cise several instances of effects obtained by mental concentration are cited, these results being at variance with our general knowledge of psychological laws. Following this train of thought I suggest that it is very probable the concentration of thought or will in this act of contracting the muscles you are en- deavoring to develop has a good deal to do with your success in that direction. Without further comment or speculations upon the scien- tific reasons why, I present the theory for the consideration of the reader. 260 The Metal Face Mask Designed for Softening the Skin and Improving tlie Complexion IN the chapter of an old French pamphlet, relating to the celebrated French beauty, Ninon de L'Enclos, mention is made of a metal face mask which she wore as a means for the prevention of wrinkles and for the preservation of the smoothness of skin and brilUant complexion for which she was cele- brated. The pamphlet, referred to in the brief sketch ol her personality, was silent as to how this mask was constructed, but I could readily understand how it was attached to the face and worn, also that such a device would be cleanly and durable, and that if it fitted the contour of the features accurately the even pressure, exclusion of air, and stimulation of the sweat glands would certainly have a very beneficial effect upon the skin and complexion. Her maid, Jeanne Sauval, simply described it as un masque d'or; i. e., a gold mask. It was evident that a perfect fit was necessary, as if there was an uneven bearing it would be painful and could not be worn when sleeping, as the maid stated was frequently the custom of her mistress. -261 Attachment of Face Mask 262 Face Mask with Electric Battery 263 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE Feeling assured that the French woman had found the right method, I experimented nearly three years upon that device, being de- termined to leafn how it was constructed. The specialist and the two ladies who kindly assisted in these experiments tried every known variety of mask, hoping to find some less ex- pensive substitute as efficacious as the French beauty's masque d'or. The requisites seemed to be about as follows: An even pressure all over the face, material durable and capable of being scalded and polished without injury, thus assuring antiseptic conditions. The surface which rested upon the skin should be hard, smooth and firm. It should be light and strong and finally not too expensive. These con- ditions we found to be necessary to success, but a very difficult problem to solve. We experimented with flannel, kid, cellu- loid, papier mache, tin, lead and rubber, find- ing them one and all failures. The flannel and kid masks simply kept the face warm and neither whitened the skin nor had any effect upon the wrinkles, the papier-mS,che and cel- luloid quickly lost shape, tin was a flat failure, and rubber, while bleaching the face and ad- mitting the use of face cream to some extent, had no effect upon the wrinkles. It also soon became ill-smelling and impossible. In the case of one of the ladies, experiment- ing with the rubber mask, a very troublesome 261 AND PREVENTION rash appeared, causing apprehensions of some dangerous skin disease. But when a sHght acci- dent prevented the fair investigator from wearing the rubber mask for a few nights the eruption quickly disappeared. Accepting Nature's hint, I discarded that form of mask and material. It was evident that the French beauty had the right idea in using gold or possibly a gilding of gold upon the metal used in the construction of her mask, but the expense of such a high- priced material was prohibitive. It seemed evident that her mask was not modeled upon her face, but most probably from a- plaster cast taken from it. We therefore had casts made of the ladies' faces, and upon these plaster faces we experimented with various metals. These metals were melted and. poured upon the plaster models. In this way we ob- tained several facsimiles in metal of the original cast, but all were too heavy and cumbersome, which the original masque ii^ or certainly could not have been. Finally we hit upon the idea of precipitating copper in solution by electricity upon the plaster faces, allowing the deposit to accumulate to about the thickness of pasteboard, the result being a light, strong copper mask, fitting the! features in every detail, the pressure being even at all points, no discomfort was felt by the wearers, as the mouth, nostrils and eyes were left free of obstruction; but finding t^xalk the con^ 265 OLD, AGE — ITS CAUSE tact of copper with the skin had an injurious effect, we plated the mask with silver. How- ever, this speedily tarnished, leaving black stains upon the skin. We then plated with gold, and finally succeeded in producing the veritable masque d'or of Ninon de L'Enclos, and probably a far better article than she used. This light, 'strong and clean device we fastened to the ladies' faces with elastic bands, as shown in the accompanying illustrations. The appli- cation of a thick coat of face cream to the face is necessary as it aids in the exclusion of air and softens the skin. The result has been very remarkable, and both of these ladies, as well as others who have tried the device, have had very extraordinary success. In a case where there was a deficiency of superficial circulation in the skin of the face (and as a consequence great pallor), an elec- tric current from a small portable battery, as shown in the illustration, was applied. The improvement was very pronounced. The first objection to the metal face mask usually offered is that it would be unpleasant to sleep with such a device upon the face, if that should be desired; but this is not the case. The metal mask fitting the contour of the features accurately in every detail (as it surely will if the plaster cast is made properly), results in a general, even bearing. The warmth gen- erated produces a gentle perspiration which has 266 AND PREVENTION a soothing effect upon the nerves and induces sleep. After wearing the mask an hour, or even half of that time, when it is removed the face will be found to be bathed in perspiration. Wipe this off with a dry towel. The skin, after this prolonged perspiration bath will be found to be white and smooth and the wrinkles tem- porarily pressed out. If the cheeks and chin have been developed by the deep massage exercise described in the chapter relating to those muscles, a very de- cided improvement in the appearance of the face by the mask alone will quickly result, but the process of facial rejuvenation will be greatly hastened by friction with the palms of the hands and tips of the fingers. Not gentle smoothings with the tips of the fingers, as usually recommended in beauty articles, but rubbing and plenty of it. This should be done immediately after the removal of the mask. The lines have then been temporarily pressed out, the skin has still a slight coating of face cream, and the conditions are then favorable for this friction process. The most convenient position you will find to be as you lie upon your back in bed. The neck should also be treated in the same way as the face, and no harm will be done to the skin as long as it does not chafe, a few drops of the face cream ap- plied by the palms of the hands preventing that condition. 267 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE This was the logical, practical and success- ful method of Ninon de L'Enclos. By it and some of the other methods described she re- tained a youthful face free from wrinkles and with the appearance of the skin of youth up to the age of 80 years. As success rewarded her efforts, so will success come to anyone who will follow her example. It requires time and patience, but success is certain and the reward to any woman who greatly values her facial appearance, in my judgment, is worth the trouble. To the reader of this chapter I have now an apology to make. These experiments at facial rejuvenation were not made upon my part with any idea of manufacturing a face mask for sale. They were taken up at the request of numerous correspondents who had obtained copies of my previous works upon Physical and Facial Rejuvenation. Accident placed me in possession of the old French pam- phlet referred to. It seemed evident that the French beauty had found the real secret and solution of a problem which has worried woman- kind in all ages, and to satisfactorily answer those questions these experiments were con- ducted; but now I must confess that I am con- fronted with a difficulty which I cannot over- come, or at least to my own satisfaction. In entering into an arrangement with my pub- lishers, it was distinctly understood that all 268 AND PREVENTION of the matter I was to present for publication was to be the result of my own personal and successful experiences in the art of getting yoUng again. That all of the methods described should be free from any artificial devices or descriptions of drug decoctions designed or used for that purpose, and that Nature's methods of deferring physical old age, or indications of facial age, should be described. In, short, the book was to be a clear description of the natural means by which I have become physi- cally young at 72 and presenting the appearance of a man but little over half of my age. Also that anyone could successfully practice those methods without an instructor and without ex- pense. I can confidently and truthfully say that up to this stage of my account of the matter I have carefully adhered to those conditions. The trouble now confronting me is that this metal face mask is now a patented device and I have been restrained from publishing the instructions necessary to understand how to make such a mask or how to^ make the plaster face cq,st upon which the mask is built. As this is the basis of the patents of the manufacturer some legal entanglement might result if I were to disregard that restrainer. In any event its construction seems to be a much more intricate process than I had supposed; in fact, about as much of an art as fitting and making a set of false teeth. Probably the only way around OLD AGE-^ITS CAUSE the difficulty would be to refer anyone interested in the matter to the experts who manufacture the device. It is an expensive affair, requiring careful measurements, photographs of the face and lines to be eliminated and generally a good deal of time and attention to various details with which I am unfamiliar. The materials of which it is constructed are all expensive; i. e., gold, silver and copper in solution, and I am now advised special electric plating devices are used. Under these conditions the manufacturers write me that they charge for each mask, with battery, etc., if desired, one hundred dollars. To the average reader of this book that will be a prohibitive price, but I can say this much for the device that it is wonderfully effective, and it certainly does whiten the skin and generally improve the complexion. Also if accurately fitted it will last a lifetime, but just like a set of false teeth, each individual must be measured and fitted by herself. There does not seem to be any other way. After using the mask the face should be thoroughly frictioned with the palms of the hands, as here- tofore described; afterwards anoint the face with the white of an egg; this, after drying and shrinking up the wrinkles, should be rinsed off in pure warm water. If all this detail is performed as I have instructed, the results will be found to be very satisfactory, possibly far greater than you think possible. The im- 270 AND PREVENTION mediate effect will probably endure for several hours, and as the practice is continued, finally permanent improvement will surely ensue. If the matter interests you address Sanford Ben- nett, care of Physical Culture Magazine, Flat- iron Building, New York, and I will send your letter to the experts who make the mask. All further information and arrangements can be made with them, as I have no longer any in- terest in the manufacture of this mask. 271 Massage Exercise for Developing the Cheeks IN the chapter entitled "Dumb-bell exercises in combinaton with massage of the biceps and triceps," reference is made to the dis- covery of the athlete, C. A. Sampson, author of "Strength," that the pressure of bands or straps tightly fastened around the arms during exercise speedily increased the size of the muscles. Experimenting, in my efforts to dis- cover the reason why, I found that this pressure during the alternate contraction and relaxations of the muscles, produced a determination of the blood to that point and therefore a distention of the vessels; consequently an enlargement of the structure, just as a sponge will enlarge when its cells are filled with water. Acting upon this idea I substituted the pressure of the palms of the hands for Sampson's bands, and found that in this way the results were the same, and that the muscles of the cheeks could be very speedily enlarged by the follow- ing simple exercise, which I practice while lying upon my back. Draw up both corners of the mouth towards the eyes, or in the position of an exaggerated smile. This will bunch up OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE those supporting muscles upon the upper part of the cheek bones immediately below the corners of the eyes. Now drop the chin to its utmost extent. This will place a further tension upon the cheek supporting muscles. In this position, that is, keeping them bunched up, alternately open and close the jaws, at the same time steadily massage, or rub with the palms of the hands. This will infallibly enlarge them, for the logical reasons described and the result will be that the overlying skin and tissue being well supported will give to the cheeks the round- ed appearance of earlier years. There will also be an increase in color and a generally improved and more youthful appearance. For the eflFect of this system upon an old face I again call your attention to the photograph which serves as a frontispiece to this book. At the age of 50 my cheeks were sunken; now, at 72, they are full and round, the result of the persistent practice of the exercise described. It will not produce any lines upon your face, and will certainly develop the supporting muscles of your cheeks, and to the best of my knowledge no other exercise of this nature will. Massage for the Muscles of the Chin THE muscles of the chin may be classed as involuntary and can only be developed by massage; but they usually respond more quickly to that process than the muscles that surround the eye. Rest the chin upon the palms of your hands, press firmly and rub the underlying muscles vigorously; the same method described for the muscles surrounding the eye, but requiring more pressure. The position of the hands should be con- tinually shifted, for, if continuous pressure is maintained upon any part without relax- ation, growth is not so rapid. Change positions, as I have suggested, .and if your chin was ever full and round in youth, that condition will, by persistent practice, be regained. 274 Rapid Development of the Supporting Muscles of the Cheeks THE instance here illustrated of rapid facial improvement by the persistent and systematic practice of the exercises de- scribed, i. e., for the development of the cheek muscles and those of the chin and jaw, is so remarkable that I have obtained the kind per- mission of the lady who so successfully practiced them to present for the inspection of the read- ers of this book two photographs. The first was taken. July 5, 1909; the second, October 26, 1909, or three months and twenty-one days later. The exercises were commenced and practiced daily and persistently under my directions, and the result has exceeded all expectations of those directly interested in the experiments. This lady was and still is quite slender. Health and digestion were very considerably improved, but not sufficiently to account for the very great change and im- provement in her facial appearance. The sup- porting muscles of the cheeks had greatly atrophied, the cheeks were hollow and the chin emaciated. The face as a consequence presented a thin and haggard appearance. First attempts 275 July Fifth, 1909 276 October Twenty-sixth, 1909 9m OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE at the exercises were not encouraging. The in- sufficient covering of the bony structure of the cheeks and chin became quite tender, and a rest of three days was allowed. This con- dition disappearing, the exercises were again commenced, and thereafter no interruption occurred. A marked improvement was evident in one month, both cheeks and chin becoming more round and symmetrical, the skin also being much improved. The exercises for the devel- opment of the throat muscles were then com- menced, but improvement at this point, while satisfactory, was not nearly so rapid as the development of the supporting cheek muscles or those of the chin. The reason of this difference in development was, I think, due to the fact of the throat muscles being less atrophied than those of the cheeks and chin. It is also probable that the neck and throat were always slender. Therefore, the apparent difference in rapidity of development. I present this case for the encouragement of those wishing to experiment in this direction. While no claim is made that such quick results can always be olitained, that it is possible the lady referred to has fully demonstrated. 278 ^^'-/Mm'ii^s^.^i^ ¥^^ SXj^ii'-''-^- :;-ffl«at^^jt^~aa The Smooth Face of a Youth 279 The Lines of Age 380 The Lines of Age AS we advance in years certain lines ap- pear upon the face and neck which we ■■ associate with age; but these marks of physical deterioration are more often due to neglect than to years. In some women, for instance, they appear at twenty -five; in others, ten years later. After persistent experiment upon the skin and muscles, for the past seventeen years, I am confident that if the practice of the simple methods described in this book are commenced when the disfiguring lines first appear, it is pos- sible, not alone to efface them, but also to pre- vent their reappearance until extreme old age. The preservation of the celebrated beauty of the Sixteenth Century, Ninon de L'Enclos, is a well-known instance of this theory. This woman was remarkable for her wonderful physical preservation. At the age of eighty j creditable, authorities state, she retained the great beauty of her girlhood, her face having the freshness of youth, and being as free then from the lines of age as it had been at twenty, her white- powdered hair, then fashionable, but adding to her youthful appearance. 281 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE From the datk the writer has been able to gather, her smoothness of skin and freedom from wrinkles was due solely to persistent daily friction of the skin of her face, combined with an exer- cise for the muscles of the neck and throat, very similar to the exercises illustrated and described in this volume. Little was known of the laws of scientific physical culture at that time, but as Madam de L'Enclos retained her elasticity of body and graceful figure to the last, it is evident that some system of exercises was systematically and persistently practiced. In that way alone could her youthful condition have been pre- served. Usually the first marks left by time upon the human features — and they are common to us all — are the wrinkles extending from the nostrils to the corners of the mouth, and beyond. As the years advance these are joined by parallel wrin- kles, somewhat shorter, about half an inch dis- tant on the cheek. Still later, another, and even shorter, wrinkle appears at a further distance of less than half an inch; and others are also formed, beginning at the corners of the mouth, •and extending downward with a slight inward curve. Wrinkles on the forehead which parallel the line of the eyebrows, with a slight downward bend at the ends, appear. These are generally from three to five in number, according to one's age. The wrinkles commonly called "crow's 282 AND PREVENTION feet" spread, fan wise, from the outer corners of the eyes over the temples, and are usually from three to five in number. The skin below the eyes becomes loose and creased. These creased lines start from the cor- ners of the eyes, slightly curving, and overlap- ping each other. By this time one or two lines usually appear at the sides of the neck, commenc- ing at a point back of the ears, extending below the jaw, and slanting downward to the throat. Immediately behind the ears, too, the skin be- comes slightly loose; two short wrinkles form, and a line appears extending down to, and under, the neck. At the nex^t stage a great number of very short, tiny lines begin to appear all over the face and neck — some parallel, others in- tersecting. These give to the skin a withered appearance. The freshness of youth has de- parted. Now, too, the skin under the chin becomes loose; all of the long lines meet and overlay and interweave, and combine with the short ones, just appearing, to form a tangled web of criss-crossings that deepen as the years advance. This is the skein of life. This is the spinning of time. And the pattern is never beautiful! The only sure method of erasing these lines is by friction, and this is best accomplished with the palms of the hands, as described in the chapter upon the Rejuvenation of the Face and Neck. This treatment, if commenced when the 283 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE disfiguring lines first appear, and if methodically and daily practiced, in combination with the exercises for the muscles of the face and neck, (described fully in the chapters upon that subject), will surely eflfect a very marked and satisfactory improvement in the personal ap- pearance. 284 The Muscles of the Throat THESE are voluntary muscles and can be exercised at will. They can be increased in size, strength and elasticity. The ana- tomical illustrations appearing on pages 252 and 292 accurately define the appearance and po- sition of these muscles. Upon them the contour of the throat largely depends. In the illustra- tion on page 252 you will notice a large muscle attached to that projection in the throat known in anatomy as the thyroid bone (more familiarly, Adam's Apple), and from that point ascending to the lower part of the chin, where it is attached. In youth that muscle is usually full, round and elastic, sup- porting the surrounding tissue and covering skin, filling up the hollows, and giving to the throat the roundness and graceful contour of which the illustration. The Throat of Youth, on the following page is an excellent example. As years creep on, if that part of the throat is not exercised, this large muscle, and the minor ones surrounding it, following the general law, deteriorate in strength, elasticity and size; the tissue shrinks, and the skin, without its former support, becomes seamed and wrinkled; 285 The Throat of Youth The Throat of Old Age 287 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE then, later, falls into loose hanging folds — the throat of old age. (See illustration on preceding page.) If the muscles underlying the loose- hanging skin, as shown in this picture, could be brought back to their former size and con- dition, it is evident that the contour of the throat would be greatly improved, for it would assume the outline of earlier years. At what age this improvement, by the methods I prac- tice, becomes impossible, I am unable to say. The photograph which faces frontispiece was taken when I was entering my fiftieth year; it shows, under the chin, the loose-hanging skin of age, and that condition remained until I had entered my, sixtieth year. During the period of that ten years, I had in- dustriously and successfully endeavored to im- prove the rest of my body, but had neglected to exercise the muscles of the throat and face, which consequently presented signs of physical age, in marked contrast to the more youthful appearance of the body and limbs. It being evident that this deterioration was due to the inactivity of these muscles, I devised a system of exercises for their development. The results of two years' persistent practice in this direction are shown in the profile picture on page 296. The throat muscles have re- gained their former strength and roundness, and the skin, being well supported, has caused the loose folds, which are shown in the pho- 288 AND PREVENTION tograph taken twenty-two years ago, to dis- appear. There is a remarkable improvement over the conditions which then existed. This development of the throat, as well as of the entire neck, has been accomplished with much less exertion, and in less time, than was. required to develop the arms and the legs. The most probable reason is, that the throat and face muscles, having never been exercised to any ex- tent, were consequently much atrophied; and this improvement, when they were systemati- cally exercised, was more noticeable. With my personal experience in this direction, I feel war- ranted in stating that it is possible, and really not difficult, to develop the muscles of the throat and face, by the methods described, after middle age; even after the half -century mark has been passed, wrinkles will disappear, and much of the smoothness of skin characteristic of earlier years may be regained. In short, if you will systematically and persistently prac- tice the methods I have endeavored to make clear, the face and neck will assume a much more youthful appearance. This will require some exertion upon your part, and some time; but it cannot be accomplished in any other way, all statements of the manufac- turer and seller of "skin foods," face ointments, or any rejuvenating preparations, to the con- trary. I speak from experience, as I experi- mented systematically and persistently with 289 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE various "skin foods" and facial ointments for one year, feeling sure that if I could find any preparation which could be forced through the pores of the skin, and absorbed by the underlying glands, it might be possible to re- store to the shrunken muscles of the face and throat the condition of earlier years. The re- sult of that year of experiments was a complete failure, for the reason that the cellular tissue of which these muscles, as well as every other muscle and organ of the body is formed, is the result of the digestion and assimilation of the food we take into our stomachs, the fluids we drink, and the air we breathe. It is impossible to feed or nourish the muscles by any artificial means ever discovered. These so-called "skin foods" or face creams are not absorbed to any appreciable extent, and the improved appear- ance of the skin after their application is due to the pores of the skin and the myriads of small lines becoming temporarily filled up with the greasy preparation, while the. smooth surface is due to the rubbing necessary to apply it. The skin, like any other piece of leather, will polish much better, with the palms of the hands, but to avoid chafing should be coated with some smooth fape cream or a few drops of olive oil. There is no royal road to health; it cannot be bought, and if you have ever been endowed with physical beauty, don't waste your time . 290 AND PREVENTION and your money endeavoring to regain it by purchase, for that is not possible. The -rejuvenating methods I have described entail no expense or pain. They are very effec- tive, but their practice rests with you, your- self, and they require both time and patience. If you value your personal appearance sufficient- ly to work for its improvement systematically and with persistence upon the lines described, my experience is that you will surely succeed. If, however, you conclude, as many will, that it is too much trouble, cultivate a spirit of contentment with your lot, and become resigned to the wrinkles and other indications of physical age, as it is impossible to remove them in any other way than as I have described. 291 Muscles of the Throat — Head Thrown Back 292 Developing the Muscles of the Throat — Third Exercise IT is impossible to present a youthful ap- pearance, if the throat is marred by loose, hanging skin. The face may be free from wrinkles, but if the muscles which support the overlying skin which covers the throat {i. e., immediately below and between the jaws) are shrunken, an appearance of age is inevitable. Therefore, in my efforts at gen- eral physical rejuvenation I have endeavored to devise special exercises for the development of the throat and neck muscles. In this direction I have obtained several valuable ideas from a careful study of the methods practiced by Ninon de L'Enclos. The old French pamphlet to which I have previously referred was not altogether clear upon this subject, the descrip- tion being vague, but evidently the French woman exercised her neck and throat by throwing her head backward, in the position shown in the anatomical plate (page 292). But as the old book stated that she practiced these movements before a mirror, she evi- dently did so either standing or sitting. Therefore, the head being supported by the 293 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE shoulders in both of these positions, the advantage of its weight in the exercises would be lost. I found that by placing a pillow under my shoulders as I lay upon my back, and then throwing the head backward as far as possible (that is, alternately backward and forward), a much greater strain could be placed upon the throat muscles as well as the large ones at the back of the neck; The develop- ment in this way would be much more rapid than by the method of the French beauty. The illustration which accompanies this de- scription will make the position clear. This method of exercising the muscles in question is also less fatiguing than when practiced in an upright position. There is also another advan- tage. The action of raising the head in the for- ward motion contracts the abdominal muscles, which relax as the head is dropped back again. This alternate contraction and relaxation is an excellent exercise for these muscles and has a very beneficial effect upon the digestive organs. Commence slowly, and if any feeling of dizziness results from the unaccustoined activ- ity' and position limit your first trials to, say, five movements, but very soon you can attain 100 or more with ease — that is, throwing the head backward as far as possible and then bringing it forward. This is the most eflFective exercise which can be devised for the purpose described, and if you are really and thoroughly 29d The Result of Throat and Neck Exercise at the Age of 72 396 OLD AGE— ITS CAUSE in earnest and will faithfully and systematically practice the movements which I have described, you will surely strengthen and round out the neck, and as the muscles of the throat eralarge and the skin overlying them is properly supported, the disfiguring bags will surely disappear. If the throat is too fat and full — that is, if that bete noir of beauty, the double chin, has appeared— this exercise will speedily reduce it. The round, full throat and symmetrical neck of the celebrated French beauty at the age of 70, as shown in her portrait, is a convincing demonstration of the value of these throat and neck exercises. Most probably she never allowed the disfiguring double chin to appear, as she commenced these exercises when physical youth was still hers and continued them throughout her long life. She was able by these means to retain the youthful contour of her beautiful neck and throat to the end. In my own case I did not commence these special exercises until I was over 50. You will notice that the loose-hanging skin at my throat was very marked at that age (see photo- graph on first page), while my profile photo- graph on opposite page^ will demonstrate my success at "three score years and ten." To all women who value their personal appear- ance I earnestly advise the practice of these three neck and throat exercises. They are the solution of a problem which has puzzled the sex in all ages. 297 Ninon de L'Enclos "The Woman Who Never Grew Old" THE remarkable woman whose portrait appears upon the following page was born in Paris, May 15, 1616; died in Paris, October 17, 1706. She was a convincing and well authenticated example of the truth of the system of facial and physical preservation and rejuvenation as described in this book. Several of the simple methods of preventing and removing wrinkles, filling up hollow cheeks, rounding the chin and one of the exercises I practice for the development of the muscles of the throat have been evolved from hints ob- tained from an old French pamphlet published in 1710, the author, Jeanne Sauval, having been the personal and faithful attendant of Ninon de L'Enclos for almost half of a century. While that old book has no doubt been used as a means of advertising various creams, face lotions and other toilet accessories of doubt- ful value, and which the great French beauty probably never heard of, yet the exercises therein meagerly and vaguely described, as if they were of no importance, were the real secret of her unprecedented preservation of 29S NINON DE L'ENCLOS AT AGE OF SEVENTY "THE WOMAN WHO NEVER GREW OLD" 300 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE apparent youth in advanced years. The metal face mask which her maid states she sometimes wore when sleeping undoubtedly was a very effective aid in the preservation of the smooth- ness of skin and brillia'nt complexion described in her memoirs. Yet without the development of the muscles of both face and throat the metal mask alone could not have preserved her youth- ful appearance at the age of seventy, as shown in her portrait. This old portrait from which the engraving was taken is still upon exhibition in a cele- brated French gallery. It is by Andre Beau- champs, Anno Domini 1686. Therefore the subject of this chapter at the time of that painting had reached her seventieth year. Those interested in the life and personality of Ninon de L'Enclos will find in the American Cyclopedia, Vol. X, under "Len," a long article in reference to her. For a more extended account of this extra- ordinary woman see the "Life and Letters of Ninon de L'Enclos," collection and compilation by W. H. Overton, published by the Lion Publishing Co., Chicago, 1903, from which the following extracts are taken: "Ninon, or Mile, de L'Enclos, as she was known, was the most remarkable woman that ever lived. For seventy years she held undis- puted sway over the hearts of the most distin- guished men of France. Louis XIV, when 301 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE she was 85 years of age, declared that she was the marvel of his reign. Ninon's form was as symmetrical, elegant and yielding as a willow; her complexion of a dazzling white, with sparkling eyes as black' as midnight; her teeth like pearls, her mouth mobile, her smile capti- vating and resistless. Adorable as she was in youth, so she continued to be until her death at the age of 91. An incredible fact, but so well attested by the greatest and most reliable writers who testify to the truth of it, that there is no reason to doubt." "Ninon attributed it not to any miracle or natural traits, but to her philosophy (that is, her methods of physical and facial preserva- tion), and declared that any one might ex- hibit the same peculiarities by following the same precepts." (Which statement I fully indorse.) It is evident that she taught her intimate friends the arts and exercises by which she preserved her marvelous beauty to extreme old age, as the biography further states: "We have it on the most undoubted testi- mony of contemporaneous writers who were intimate with him that one of her dearest friends and followers. Saint Evremond, at the age of 89 years, inspired one of the famous beauties of the English court with an ardent attachment." Of the many portraits painted during the S02 AND PREVENTION long life of Ninon de L'Enclos, the picture here presented seems to be the only profile position now extant, and was evidently intended to ex- hibit the remarkable preservation of her beau- tiful neck. The full-face portrait which ap- pears as the frontispiece of her memoirs above quoted is now in the gallery of Baron Alfred de Rothschild, painted by Jean Petitot in 1666. She was then about 50. She was evidently much more slender in her youth, or even at the time when the Jean Petitot portrait was painted (at 50), but there is no indication of age in the smooth, round neck and throat, even at three score years and ten. It is very probable that her luxuriant hair had become gray, as there does not seem to be any effectual method of preventing that mark of age from appearing as we advance in years, but the white powdered hair then fash- ionable but added to her beauty and youthful appearance. This picture, with the statements given, is presented as indisputable evidence that if the human body is through life kept free from wornout tissue, dead cells or other clogging matter it will not exhibit what we know as "the signs of age'" to a period long past that which we now think to be the physical limit of the appearance of youth. 303 s BE s a e o •o XI < c cs o J3 3 Muscles of the Back of the Neck and the Abdominal Muscles LYING upon the back, as shown in the illustration, when you raise your head you will find that a tension is placed upon all of the muscles of the neck, but particularly those at the back of > the neck. The large,, flat muscles which brace up the abdomen are also brought into action. To exercise and strengthen both of these very important sets of muscles, lie upon your back and alternately raise and lower your head. Tive movements will be sufficient to commence with, but as your strength increases ten times that number will not tire you and can do no harm. 305 Development of Neck Muscles Sanford Bennett at Age 67 306 The Skin THE skin forms a protective covering, a close-fitting garment, for the whole body. It is of unequal thickness; over those parts which are exposed to pressure and friction it is thick and tough, but in the case of other parts liable to variations in size it is especially elastic. But in every place it is adapted to the purpose of protection. It is both a secreting and an excreting organ, and upon its proper action our health, our very lives, depend. If its millions of glands and pores become obstructed it is impossible for one to be healthy. On the other hand, when these open- ings — -the safety valves of the body — are free and clear, the impurities of the body are readily thrown off, the circulation is improved, an equilibrium is established in the eliminating process between the skin and the internal organs, digestion is easier, intestinal and urinary se-. cretions become more regular, and an improve- ment in the nervous condition results. My own experience has been that daily friction of the skin with goat-hair mittens and a goat-hair friction belt will materially relieve insomnia. These friction exercises should be followed by a 307 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE tepid bath. The moral of it all is: Keep the skin clean by friction and bathing. . The skin is composed of three layers . Overlying the true skin is the cuticle, or scarf skin, and although we commonly call this the skin, it is really only a protecting layer over the true skin. It has no blood vessels, so it never bleeds; and, as it contains no nerves, it feels no pain. The micros^cope shows that it is composed entirely of minute flat scales which overlap each other very much like the shingles of a roof. These scales are formed by the true skin beneath, and are constantly thrown off from the body. Ordi- narily this is iniperceptible; but sometimes the scales accumulate into masses, when it is called scurf. Or, if the accumulation is upon the scalp, it is known as dandruff. Upon the condition of the scarf skin the com- plexion largely depends. If it is rough, a good complexion is impossible. Temporary improve- ment can be obtained by use of the remedies dear to the feminine mind — "skin foods," face creams and face powders. But all of these ap- plications have the same result: they simply fill up the minute lines, and temporarily smooth the rough surface. But when this coating is washed off, the skin, will resume its former condition. It is not usually claimed for face powders that they will afford more than a temporary im- provement, but the manufacturers and venders 308 AND PREVENTION of so-called "skin foods" positively assert that their preparations feed and nourish the skin, and build up the underlying muscles, and that the benefit derived from their use is there- fore permanent. If lanoline, paraffine, white wax and spermacetti, the basis of all these preparations, could be forced into the true skin and the. muscles, and could there be con- verted into living cellular tissue, of which all parts of the body (the skin included) are com- posed, this claim might have some foundation of truth. But as these cells can only come into life by the process of digestion and assimilation, the fallacy of the above claim is apparent. You certainly cannot form or "build up" living tissue from dead matter. The term "skin food" is a very attractive title for these greasy, waxy preparations, but neither the skin nor the muscles can feed on that kind of food. By friction some very slight superficial absorption of the higher grades of oil is possible; but even this does not become living tissue. As this ab- sorption is limited to only the very highest grades of oil, it is manifestly impossible for the skin to take up paraflfine, white wax, or any of the other coarse concomitants of "skin foods." Their immediate effect, as before stated, is to coat the surface of the skini, which, after their use, assumes a smoother appearance. But this is temporary, and there can be no growth or im- 309 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE provement of the underlying muscles by such applications. The objection to these greasy ointments is that they clog up and obstruct the myriads of underlying pores and glands. If you would have a healthy skin, these out- lets for the impurities of the system must be kept clean and clear. Otherwise the skin cannot be hea,lthy. The secret of a fresh," healthy skin is friction and cleanliness. Upon the body use the goat- hair friction mittens and the friction belt of the same material. It is advisable that these friction exercises be practiced daUy — after the other exercises described in this book — and fol- lowed by a tepid bath. For the face and neck, friction with the palms of the hands is an effective method of removing wrinkles, as they can be rubbed out, and the skin can be polished, as elsewhere stated, just like any other piece of leather. For the ablutions of the face and neck use tepid water softened with borax. In a very short time after commencing these friction exercises for the body, you will find that the nervous system is quieter and that both the digestion and the circulation are improved. And what will prove of special interest to ladies is that the friction exercises for the face and neck will surely result in a marked improvement. I have demonstrated upon my own face and neck that by this method wrinkles can be re- 310 AND PREVENTION moved even in advanced age, and I am positive that if this friction exercise is commenced when the lines first appear and is persistently prac- ticed, they will be eradicated and will not again appear until extreme old age. This is the method that was practiced by Ninon de L'Enclos, the celebrated French beauty of the seventeenth century, and it is the only successful method for removing wrinkles and retaining the smooth skin characteristic of youth. For the details of the rejuvenation of the face and neck, see the chapter under that title. 311 312 Exercising the Muscles Which Cover the Shoulder Blades LYING upon your back, as shown in the opposite illustration, strike with your elbow across the chest. This movement will bring into action and develop the muscles covering the shoulder blades. Five movements for each arm will be sufficient to commence with. This exercise is valuable where there are any indications of acid rheumatism in the muscles described. I speak from personal experience. 313 •01) .s a o "3 5U Exercise for the Development of the Throat Muscles First Exercise LYING upon your side, place ybur thumb on the throat immediately under the chin, or at about the center of the large muscle which extends frorii the Adam's Apple to the chin (see anatomical plate on page 2(12). If you lie upon your right side, use the right thumb; if upon th^ left, use the left thumb. Throw the head back to the position shown in the illustration on the opposite page. Then bring the head forward (chin to the chest) which will relax the tension. Keep up the pressure of the thumb while alternating, contracting and relaxing the muscles by the movements described. This movement will tense the muscles of the throat, which the exercise is intended- to develop, the firm, upward pressure of the thumb adding to that tension. Commence with ten movements each morn- ing, increasing gradually, as your physical con- dition will warrant, to fifty. This exercise should be practiced while recum- bent, both upon the right aiid left sides. If prac- ticed faithfully and systematically a marked im- provement of the contour of the throat will surely result. 815 Showing Muscles of the Neck and Arms — Rear View 316 The Neck THE principal supports of the neck are two large muscles attached to the base of the skull, and from thence descending to the shoulders; they form the back of the neck. The sides are braced by another pair of large muscles which are attached to the skull im- mediately behind the ears, and which descend to the collar bone. These large muscles are braced by minor ones, but upon these main supports, the contour and strength of the neck largely depend. If they are poorly developed the back and sides of the neck will appear weak and unsymmetrical; the skin-covering, lack- ing the proper support, will soon fall into un- sightly creases; and in this condition there is an appearance of age which the time of life may not warrant. Persistent rubbing of the back and sides of the neck with the palm of the hand will, to a considerable extent, efface these wrinkles; but this is- a superficial treatment and its effect is but temporary; as, if the underlying muscles are shrunken and weak, the skin — ^being poorly supported — will surely become loose and flabby, and the creases, will deepen. , The remedies dear to the feminine mind for •oil OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE this condition are so-called "skin foods" and other greasy preparations of like nature. But as it is impossible to form muscular tissue by their use, the fallacy of the process is evident. The skin will certainly be improved by the friction necessary to apply the preparations, but aside from this the treatment is of no avail. It is evident that if the muscles described were developed and restored to the condition of earlier years, the skin, being then properly supported, would regain its smooth surface. This can be accomplished by practicing the several exercises for both neck and throat which are described. 318 3 JS ■OH a o 319 Exercise for Developing and Strengthen- ing the Neck CLASP the hands firmly back of the head, as shown in the illustration on pre- ceding page. Raise the head clear of the pillow; then press it backward, exerting at the same time a strong forward, or resistance, pressure with the arms. Commence with not more than five movements; that is, alternately raising and lowering the head, at the same time keeping up the full strain of the arms. At the end of a week increase one or two movements, as your condition may warrant. My own limit is now twenty -five, which I find ample. By an excess of this exercise, I increased my neck measurement from fourteen to sixteen inches; whi'eh, being out of proportion to my height (see illustration on page 306), I totally discontinued for about six months, the saipe measurement reducing to fifteen and one-quarter iP'Ches; at which it remains. The muscles called into action, and specially developed by this exercise, are shown in the illmtration on page 292. 320 01 o V3 3 •on .s a o Q 321 Developing the Sides of the Neck LYING upon your side, as shown in illus- . tration on preceding page, turn the chin as far as possible towards the upper shoulder. (This movement will contract the muscles upon the side of the neck, and will also bring into action those muscles of the throat immediately under the chin.) When the head drops back to its original position the muscles will relax. Their alternate contraction and relaxation constitute an exercise which will develop the muscles of the sides of the neck, and will also strengthen and improve the con- tour of the throat muscles. Commence the exercise with five movements, and increase to fifty or more, as your physical condition improves. Both sides of the neck must be exercised, for otherwise the develop- ment will be unequal. The effect of this exercise upon the neck is shown in the illustration on page 306. The deep Unes which once crossed and re-crossed the back of my neck have wholly disappeared, and my appearance at this point is that of a man of half my years. Ladies who may contemplate practicing this 322 OLD AGE- ITS CAUSE exercise need not fear the appearance of undue muscularity which this picture exhibits. The effect of exercise upon the muscles of women is not the same as upon the muscles of men. The knotted and rugged appearance of the muscles of the trained male athlete never appear in women, although similarly trained; Their muscles al- ways remain soft, elastic and more graceful in their roundness than those of men. The exercise here described will improve and beautify the neck at a time when, in middle life, it is usually very scrawny. 323 OS -, •a o CQ o X Si o 354 Tensing Exercise for the Whole Body THERE are many deep-seated minor mus- cles which are not called into activity by the special exercises previously de- scribed. The capillaries which should nourish them, and the microscopic veins, by this in- activity, may become clogged, losing their elasticity and efficiency, just as the larger ar- teries, veins and muscles will deteriorate un- der like conditions. It is therefore necessary to bring this dormant machinery into action. To effect this, lie upon your side, fold your arms across your chest, grasp your elbows with the hands, throw your head well back, and stretch your body to its full length, as shown in the illustration upon the opposite page. In this attitude exert at first but half of the strength of your folded arms — the pressure coming upon the elbows, over which your hands are clasped. As you do this, stretch and tense your entire body until it becomes rigid. Hold this position but two or three seconds, as the effect is as though you were lifting a heavy weight. Relax for a few seconds; then repeat the effort. Three or four movements — ^that is, alternate tensing and relaxing of the muscles 355 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE — as described are sufficient. This exercise will set the blood "tingling in every vein," and, most probably, will be followed at first by perspiration. Commence the exercise cautiously; exert only half your force in the pressure of the folded arms, and gradually increase, as your strength increases. Commence with not more than three or four movements; increase slowly until you have reached ten, which will be sufficient. 85? 357 Single- Arm Pulling Exercise LYING upon your side, as in the preceding exercise, clasp one hand only around the ankle of the upper leg, as in the illustration 'on preceding page. In this po- sition, pull with yoiir^ full strength, holding the strain for a few seconds; then relax. Commence with ten movements (that is, alternately tensing and relaxing by the pulling exercise described), and increase, as your physi- cal condition improves, to twenty -five move- ments. You will find the tension of the shoulder muscles in this effort different from the pre- ceding exercise, the strain being across the shoulders as well as downward. This, like the pulling exercise, is perfectly safe; the muscles specially brought into action are those which make up the "neck yoke" and those immediately around and bracing the shoulder sockets. It is designed to strengthen and generally develop the muscles of the back. 358 PulKng Exercise, for Strengthening the Muscles of the Back and Loins LYING upon your side, clasp your hands over the upper knee, as shown in the illustration on following page. Exert your full strength in a steady pull; then relax. Commence with ten movements (that is, alter- nately pulling steadily a few seconds upon the bent knee and then relaxing the strain). As you gain strength, increase the movements. The tension will come principally upon the back muscles of the shoulders, but this is also an excellent exercise for the development of the loin muscles, which are brought into action by the effort. This exercise is perfectly safe, and improve- ment in the muscles so treated is certain, if the exercise is systematically and regularly prac- ticed. In all of these exercises, when the position is upon the side, go through the whole series for that side before changing the position. I practice in the order of the descriptions and illustrations. C 3 0. o e G a o S60 Exercise for Developing the Back and Shoulder Muscles IN this exercise, remain in the same position as that just described — 'that is, upon ypur side, with the arms fold^^d across the chest — ^bend the head well forward, thus tensing the muscles at the base of the neck, and those surrounding it. Exert your full strain upon the folded arms (the lower part of the body being relaxed); in this position shrug your shoulders up arid down. This action will alternately tense and relax the large muscles of the upper part of the neck and shoulders. Commence with five movements, and increase to, say, fifteen. This is a very effective exercise, and is with- out danger of strain. 361 O b O Q 362 Resistance Exercise for Developing the Fore- Arms IYING upon your side, grasp the wrist of your lower arm with the upper hand; press with your full strength downward, resisting with upward pressure, as in the il- lustration on the opposite page. Commence with five movements; that is, al- ternately exerting and relaxing the pressure upon the lower wrist; increase as your physical condition improves, to ten or fifteen. It is a per- fectly safe exercise, and will add to the strength of the fore-arm. This exercise is specially designed for the de- velopment of the fore-arm, but you will find that it brings into action and tenses all the muscles of the arm. It should be practiced both upon the right and left side. (See illus- tration on opposite page.) 364 Resistance Exercise for Developing the Arms 1YING upon your side, as shown in the illustration . on the opposite page, grasp the upper wrist with the lower hand and pull upward with the upper arm, resisting that pull with the downward strain of the lower arm. At each movement, that is, in the al- ternate strain and relaxation of the muscles, turn the wrist slightly, as it lies in the clasp of the hand. In the one position, the front of the wrist should meet the palm of the opposing hand; and in the next, the side of the wrist should be presented to it. This slight change, made by the turn of the wrist, will bring into action another set of muscles, and if you desire to thoroughly exer- cise the muscular system, do not overlook these apparently trivial changes in position. To ladies endeavoring to improve the sym- metry of their arms, I strongly recommend this exercise. Commence with ten movements, and increase, as your physical condition improves, even to the point of fatigtte. Benefit will surely result. S65 ■01 e s < ■ot C a "3 > e Twisting Exercise for the Development of the Arms THIS movement brings into action all the muscles of the arms, and is exactly like the exercise of fencing, in which the play of the foils necessitates this twisting motion. The benefits of fencing are well known; but as only the right arm is used by the fencer in his amusement that arm is often unduly de- veloped, while the left is neglected. He is, therefore, in this respect, usually ill-balanced. In lying upon your side, extend your upper arm at full length, parallel with your body, as shown in the illustration facing this page. Clench your fist tightly, that the muscles may be tensed. Twist your arm around toward your body as far as possible, without incon- venience; then reverse the movement. Commence with five or ten movements; that is, twisting the arm backward an dforward, as directed. ' This is an excellent exercise for ladies who wish to add to the symmetry of their arms, as improve- ment is certain if the practice is persistent. It is, of course, understood that both the right arm and the left must be exercised in this manner; other- wise an unequal development will surely result. 367 368 Exercise for Developing the Triceps or Back Muscles of the Arms 1YING upon your side, grasp firmly the upper arm, between the elbow and the shoulder, as in the position shown in the illustration facing this page. Pull back- wards with the upper arm, at the same time resisting the pull by the firm grasp and down- ward pliU of the lower hand and arm. Comnience with > five movements; that is, alternately pulling and relaxing the strain. I do not know of any gymnasium exercise, aided by mechanical appliances, that will so speedily develop the muscles described. It is a safe, simple and very effective exercise. 369 370 Exercise for the Hips and Loins LYING upon your side throw the upper hip forward, as in the illustration. As you do so bend your arm and draw it back as far as possible. This" action will place an additional tension upon the loin muscles, as well as upon the muscles of the contracted arm. Relax and repeat. Three to five movements will be sufficient to commence with, but as you increase in strength, double that number will not fatigue and will be of benefit. This is an excellent and perfectly safe exercise. It will strengthen and give elasticity to the loin muscles. It also brings the abdominal muscles into action. The movement of the upper hip should be simultaneous with the back move- ment of the elbow. In the picture the lower hand is shown to be grasping the upper arm, but this I no longer practice, as I have found that it interferes with the forward hip move- ment, which can then not be extended as far forward as if the hand were free in the exercise. It is true that it has a beneficial effect upon the muscles of the contracted upper arm, but as I have said I now practice with the upper arm free. Practice upon both sides of the body. 371 a S "i o •o XI < •01 "S. o 372 Percussion Exercise for Strengthening the Abdominal Muscles and Improving Digestion THIS method of exercise is described in the pages headed "Dyspepsia." There is but little to add to that statement. Suffice it, then, to say that it is an excellent exercise, and has a very beneficial effect upon all the digestive organs. Commence with twenty -five quick strokes; increase, as your physical condition will war- rant, to one hundred or more. The percussion should be light and rapid: Continue the percussion, both in the tensed and relaxed conditions of the abdominal muscles, as produced in the foregoing exercise; the tension and relaxation being caused by alter- nately raising and lowering the head, as in the illustration on the opposite page. During intervals of rest, if it is desired to re- duce abdominal fat, massage and rub the fatty deposit as directed upon the page headed "Reducing an Obese Abdomen." I have been accustomed to extend the body at full length in this exercise, as shown in the illustration; 373 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE but if you find you are impeded by the bed- clothes, bend the knees, which will raise the covering clear of the abdomen. I strongly recommend this exercise to those suffering from indigestion. 374 J5 a s Z Xi 2 o 8 a B < ■Of C a o 875 Bar Exercise No. 1 Exercise Number 1 for the Development of the Muscles of the Arms and Shoulders FIRMLY attached across the head-board of my bed is a stout hickory bar 1| inches in diameter and as long as the head-board is wide. Lying upon my back, I grasp this bar with both hands, as shown in the illustration on the preceding page. I employ sufficient strength to bring the muscles of my arms to full tension, but not to move the body. The action is similar to that gymnasium ex- ercise known as chinning the bar, with the dif- ference that I lie upon my back. Chinning the bar is a favorite gymnasium exercise with young athletes, as its practice usually results in very satisfactorily developing the muscles specially called into action; but it places a great strain upon the heart, and be- comes therefore a somewhat hazardous exer- cise as we advance in years. Commence the exercise with five motions; increase gradually, until your physical con- dition will warrant twenty-five daily without fatigue or soreness of the muscles. 376 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE I weigh, stripped, 140 pounds; the force of the pull would not raise more than half of that weight, therefore the body moves but slightly from its position, while the muscles of the arms and shoulders are thoroughly exercised. The method I have described is perfectly safe at any age; the pull can be proportioned to your physical condition and the heart will not be overtaxed. srr (U 3 z - 4) ^ - 3 O X e B < S o a Bar Exercise Number 2 Similar to the Foregoing Exercise, with the Exception that but One Hand Is Used T^HIS exercise is designed to stretch the large muscles immediately surrounding, and below, the arm pit, which do not seem to be so directly called into action when using both arms. The shoulder, in this exercise, is raised higher, and the tension upon the muscles described is more decided. See ana- tomical plate, facing page 34. . Commence with five movements and grad- ually increase to twenty-five, as your physical condition may warrant. (Exercise illustrated on opposite page.) 379 380 The Lifting Board THIS exercise was devised in response to many inquiries from athleteg who de- - sired some simple substitute for the ordi- nary expensive Hfting machine used in gym- nasiums — something which could be used in con- nection with this comfortable system of exer- cises. The answer to these inquiries is this lifting board. It will be found an excellent device for developing the muscles called into action in weight-lifting, but is not necessary to those whose object in taking up this system is simply health. To the athlete I strongly advocate the use .of this device, but in moderation. A very marked increase in your weight-lifting ' ability will soon appear, but practice in moderation. This simple but very effective device for exer- cising the muscles of the shoulders and loins and thighs is a board 15 inches in Imigth by 4 inches in width. At each end are inserted two strong screw eyes, to which are attached ropes 18 inches long, terminating in ordinary pulley- weight handles. This board is covered with flannel, to prevent a chill to the feet. The method of its use is shown by the S81 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE illustration on page 380; the effect is that of the ordinary lifting machine, with the ad- vantage that it is used in a recumbent position, and under cover of the bed-clothes. It is the only exercise I describe in which there is any danger of injury, as it is possible to strain the muscles of the loins or shoulders, if too great force is exerted; therefore, in commencing the practice, put on the strain gently for a few sec- onds ; then relax. This alternate tension and relaxation by the lifting movement specially brings into action the muscles of the shoulders, loins and thighs; but it is also an excellent exercise for the whole body. The apparatus is very simple and easily made. Do not use springs or elastic bands, which you will be tempted to do, thinking they are an improvement. I used them and aban- doned them in favor of the inflexible ropes. The elasticity of the loin muscles in the' act of lifting will be sufficient, and you will, be better able to determine the amount of lifting strain required. I strongly advocate this ex- ercise, but in moderation. Commence with five gentle movements, increasing, as strength develops, and your physical condition may war- rant. 382 To a "Good Sport" TO my friend and companion on many a shooting trip — ^the happiest days of my long Hfe! Together he and I have ch'mbed the steep quail hills, or waited listening in some rocky canyon-to the deep vibrant bay of "Peak" mingUng with the long-drawn bugle-like cry of "Scout," as, through tangled chaparral, they "cold trailed" some wandering coyote or sneaking cat. Then the sharp, high staccato notes of "Nellie" would break in, and the duet became a trio. The tempo of the wild symphony would quicken, and we scrambled up the rocky ridge to our "stands" on the "high divide." Together he and I have "lain out" in our blankets watching the glint of the stars in the cloudless California sky, while, far up on the OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE mountain side, the thin, weird wail of some prowHng coyote alone broke the silence. Then, as the crest of "Grizzly Peak" reddened in the rising sun, the reedy querulous challenge of the cock quail sounded defiance from sheltering thickets, far and near. The wind, sighing through the redwoods — the pungent smoke of the camp fire — ^the pure, clear air of the early morning-^-the joy of it all when one is pul- sating with health and living close to Nature. The picture changes: a bevy of quail is scat- tered over the brown, dry hillside. Shot and Dan cautiously beat the short sage brush cover. They stop, and stand like statues. I see the quiver of their tense muscles — the gleam of Dan's bright, brown eyes. Then, a sharp whir, and -the fastest game bird in the world darts like a flash down the gulch. The hanimerless goefe to my shoulder — the fleecy feathers drift upon the still air. The picture never fades, and years but add to my love of that life. Al Fischer, crack shot, and companion on many a shooting trip on which we never found the country too rough, the hills too high, or the day too long, may the years rest as lightly on your shoulders at seventy-two as they do on mine. SANFORD BENNETT. San Francisco, California, January 4th, 1912. 384 Out for a Oua'l Shoot— 40 and 72 385 386 In Conclusion I HAVE now described, as fully and clearly as I am capable of doing, the methods by which I have accomplished my physical rejuvenation, and why such a condition as mine, at seventy-two, is possible by the system I practice. There is no question of my success, and I know the same satisfactory results are possible for any one who will ioUow my ex- ample; but will you do so? The majority will say, "That man has some good ideas," and add, "I feel that I do need a methodical system of exercise, and when I have time I may take this up." You might as well say you have no time to eat or sleep. You can't be healthy unless you exercise. Health should be your first consideration. Financial success and other things are of secondary importance ; for with health, strength and elasticity of body the chances of financial success are greatly in- creased. Without these attributes, the. greatest financial success is of but little value. How many of our brain workers— ^our busi- ness men and professional men — have sacrificed health and happiness by following the paradox, "I am too busy — I haven't time to take care 387 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE of my health"? There is only one result to a life upon these lines — an early breakdown is inevitably certain. It is true that many have accomplished great wealth in exchange for their health, but have spent that wealth in vainly endeavoring to regain their former, but now wasted, physical vigor. I don't decry financial success. Wealth is a very good thing to have; but the greatest financial success will not compensate for ill health. Better stop now, before it is too late, and take the time to make yourself strong, for otherwise you may be forced to attend your own funeral, brought about prematurely by lack of muscular activity and other violations of the laws of Nature. Another objection often raised is, "I am too old." To this I have already made my answer. If I, a chronic dyspeptic at fifty, with adverse hereditary and physical conditions and un- favorable environments, have been able, by the simple methods I have described, to build myself up and to acquire the strength, elasticity of body, and vital energy I now possess, but never had in the best days of my youth, then you, too., can surely have the same success. You are not too old. Try it. Commence now, and you will succeed. "Too much trouble" — ^that is the objection of a lazy person. If, by the same exertions for one year, you could be assured that you 388 AND PREVENTION would receive $50,000, you would not think that too much trouble, but would esteem it the opportunity of your life. Yet the health and improved physical condition which would surely result from one year's systematic and per- sistent practice of the methods I have de- scribed, could not be purchased for that or any other sum. It is true that to be in the best physical con- dition does require unremitting attention; but the end is worth the means, for the reward is health, strength, elasticity of body, and lon- gevity — ^the real, the greatest, riches in the world. Just as engineers and expert machinists, em- ployed to care for the intricate machinery of a great ocean steamship, are forever polish- ing up and looking after the various details of that machinery, that they may have its highest efficiency; so the complicated ma- chinery of the human body must be assiduously and intelligently cared for, or it will surely de- teriorate. There is no "royal road to health." It cannot be bought; if you would possess it you must work for it. But the way is easy, the work not hard. As you lie comfortably in- bed to-morrow morning, commence the practice of any one of the muscular contractions and relaxations I have described, and when you have learned that, take up the next. Finally you will have acquired the whole system, which you will 389 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE find to be an easy, certain and inexpensive method of acquiring health. You will find all of the exercises easily learned. "DO IT NOW." Commence to-morrow morning. Yours sincerely. 390 "I Move We Adjourn." 391 As to Questions That May Arise IN my first book, entitled "Exercising in Bed," I told the story of my physical re- juvenation at 72, and described the simple means by which I have regained my physical youth at "over three score years and ten." Then I very rashly told the readers of that book that, if they did not clearly understand the methods I described, and would write to me, I would gladly explain any problems which I had -solved in the science of getting young ag^in. The result of that invitation has been such an avalanche of questions that I have been unable to answer a great many letters and must apologize to the writers for my apparent lack of good faith. In this new literary venture I had intended to answer all of those questions, but I find that space will not' permit. As Old Age — Its Cause and Prevention is already a larger book than I had intended, I know that I should make good my promise, but I have not the time, even if I had the space. In this dilemma I have de- cided to do the next best thing; really the very best thing, and that is to refer the ques- tioners to the remarkable compilation of the 392 OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE writings of Bernarr Macfadden (editor Physical Culture Magazine), which, with essays of other recognized authorities upon the science of health, strength, elasticity of body, good ' di- gestion and Nature's methods of obtaining a long life, without the use of drugs, constitute the five volumes of "Macfadden's Encyclopedia of Physical Culture." For in this valuable collec- tion of information will be found the answers to the questions which have been propounded to me, as well as a vast amount of reliable data in the greatest of all sciences. The matter is alphabetically arranged for quick reference. It has all been carefully considered by Editor Macfadden, and is invaluable. There has never been anything like it published. That I may contribute my little help toward the advance- ment of the science of health and a long life without drugs, I have made an arrangement with the Physical Culture PubUshing Company that any purchaser of a copy of Old Age — Its Cause and Prevention at the regular retail price of $1.50, shall be given a voucher for that amount, which will be accepted by them at its face value on account of the purchase of Macfadden's Encyclopedia of Physical Culture. In this way the information requested, but which I have failed to furnish, will be ob- tained quicker and probably in most cases will be more clearly presented than I could have done, even if I could have answered the OLD AGE — ITS CAUSE questions, which I must admit have often been "beyond my pen." My advice is to read care- fully my own experiences in getting young again at 72, which you will find in Old Age — Its Cause and Prevention, then buy Macfad- den's Encyclopedia, read up your own case, be your own doctor, don't use any more drugs, and send me your thanks for "giving you the tip." Use the big books as a warehouse of re- liable, valuable information, which you will surely need when you commence the study of the science of taking care of your body, by rational methods and without drugs, druggists, or drug store doctors. The invest- ment I advise is the best you can make. I might not have time to give you the in- formation required, and possibly I couldn't do it if I wanted to, but you are pretty sure to find it in that warehouse of information. You have my kindest wishes for your success in the art of getting young again and I would like to hear you have succeeded. Anyhow, I am positive you will be greatly benefited if you will take my advice in the matter. Sincerely yours.