DISEASES OF THE AGED

Abstract

For the first time in history, the average expectation of the duration of human life at birth has passed the Biblical mark of three score and 10 years. This applies to a girl born in the United States today; a boy has an expectation of about five years less. This sex difference in longevity is a characteristic found throughout the animal kingdom and may prove to be an insurmountable law of nature. It is gratifying to know, however, that the duration of human life has steadily and rapidly increased during the past two generations for both sexes. Coincident with our gaining control primarily over the infectious diseases in the majority of persons, both young and old, a heavy responsibility has devolved on us to study and to lessen, as far as we are able, the progress and effects of the chronic, so-called degenerative diseases, mainly those involving the heart and