TOLL OF THE WINTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19050, 22 June 1925, Page 10

TOLL OF THE WINTER.

EFFECT ON AGED PEOPLE. WARMTH AND COMFORT NEEDED. Although the cold winter months produce unbounded energy in youth they do not bring vitality to the aged. The winter o[ life demands warmth and comfort and the rigours of the seasons reflect on human machinery as they do upon Nature. Winter, of all other seasons, takes a greater toll on life—human life and animal life—in ail countries that are subjected to defined changes of season. The greater the change between summer and winter the greater is the mortality among those who have lived beyond the average span of life. Why should this be ? One only needs to look to Nature for an answer. In this one respect Nature is more akin to the tree of human life than to Anything else- In tho warm months the sap of vitality flows freely through the flowers and the trees resulting in abundant growth and vigour ! of life. The earth supplies the blood as it were. In winter the snow or the frosts harden the soil and stop that flow of blood so necessary for. vitality. The flowers wither away and die and the trees shed all their resplendent finery. And so it is with human life. The cold does its best to sap away vitality. Youth is able to withstand the onslaught, but many of the aged succumb. Comparatively mild though tho winter is in Auckland it yearly takes its toll on the aged and the mortality rate among people from 60 years onwards shows an appreciable increase compared with the rate for the warmer months. This year Mhe cold weather set in at the beginning of May and the approximate mortality figures" in Auckland from May 1 until June 20 are as follow:—60 to 69 years, 37 deaths; 70 to 79 years, 40 deaths; 80 to 89 years, 39 deaths; 90 years and more, 11 deaths. All the ailments of aged people arc accentuated during the winter. Hearts are made weak by the increased blood pressure and weak hearts are made worse by the same cause- The skin tightens under the cold and tho capillaries which contract are unable to do their work. In "consequence most of the blood flows internally exerting, greater work on the heart. Weak kidneys are affected by increased blood pressure. The cold brings about constriction and causes internal congestion. Bronchial troubles are also increased with the coming of the cpld. Winter is indeed trying for the uged. There are many who suffer its privations without the aid of comfort and artificial warmth. Their lot is surely a sad one.