Centenarians and nonagenarians / by W. Gilman Thompson.

  • William Gilman Thompson
Date:
[1913]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Centenarians and nonagenarians / by W. Gilman Thompson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    from, there were 25 fatal cases of intestinal obstruc- tion. In my personal observation among the very aged, overeating and consequent overtaxing of the intestine is a very common error. I know a gentle- man who shortly after celebrating his centennial died of overindulgence in lobster salad, and I saw a woman of 96 years who died from intestinal obstruc- tion as a result of long-continued overeating, from which her family were unable to restrain her. In her seventh decade she was a moderate eater, but with advancing years her appetite grew and amounted to bulimia. Two sisters were under my observation for many years, one died at 92 and the other is at present entering upon her ninety- second year. They were exceedingly fond of what is sometimes called “old-fashioned New England cooking,” and sausages, mince pie, doughnuts, green corn and similar heavy articles of diet were among those for which I was not infrequently called upon to administer correctives! An old gen- tleman of 90, who visited me during the past sum- mer, and who appeared as vigorous as many a man of 70, astonished me by the variety and quantity of food which he disposed of. In such persons the attainment of ripe years appears to be due mainly to the persistence of good digestion, a sur- vival of the fittest stomachs even after other im- portant organs are seriously impaired. As old age advances and activities and diversions become more and more restricted, the appetite often re- mains undiminished. The limitation of locomotion, the lack of acuteness of sight and hearing, and other weaknesses, may leave the pleasures of the table almost the only gratification in a monotonous existence. In such cases, if digestion remains fairly active, nutrition may be maintained in an