HEALTH ADVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 June 1933, Page 3

HEALTH ADVICE

FOR A MAN IN THE ’FIFTIES. The eminent physician. Dr. Bernard Hollander, has written a book entitled “Old Age Deferred.” It is a. book essentially for the layman .and Dr. Hollander’s purpose is to show how people can live to a ripe old age and still take delight in menial and physical activity. His advice on diet and other medical matters must be studied in fail for their value to be appreciatOn. (he question of retirement Dr. Hollander writes:. — “It i; a. great mistake to suppose that idleness is conducive to longevity.. If, is al ail times better to wear out than to rust out; and the latter process is apt to lie speedily accomplished. Everyone must have met with individuals who, while fully occupied until sixty, or even seventy years of age remained hale ami strong, but aged with marvellous rapidity after relinquishing work; a. change in their mental condition becoming specially prominent. “’riicy were men who had been entirely absorbed in their business or profession, allowing themselves no time for hobbies, outside interests, care for other objects and people; and. who hud hoped, on retirement, to lead a happy existence, pottering about their house and garden. A brain, however, that has been so active can-1 not summarily be reduced to a standstill. Haying no out let for its energy, it creates undesired and sometimes undesirable thoughts and feelings, which are apt to unbalance the mind and wreck the nervous system. “Even if a highly developed brain is not consciously exercised, its activity does not. necessarily cease; but its j energy, having no proper outlet, is I likely to be turned inward and lead to self-observation, introspection, hypochondriasis, or some other derange' ment. A lack of an intellectual interest leaves the mind open to become the prey of any thoughts that may en > ter, or else turns it upon itself. If it were kept in a healthy activity, and its

interest constantly engaged, a great deal of mischief would be avoided. The poet, Cowper, has well said: ‘Absence of occupation is not rest, A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.’ “And Johnson, too, has given sound advice: “ ‘When you are idle be not solitary; And when you arb solitary be not idle.’ “A man who has retired from his occupation need no longer think of .himself, but, should get outside himself by taking an interest in others. He can study the welfare of his family, or help some society or organisation, or assist in communal affairs. This will prevent him getting self-centred —a common failing of old men. He can spend his declining years pleasantly and maintain some of the vigour of manhood by engaging in some work that shall keep his mind interested. “The constitution, the idiosyncrasies, the temperaments, the tastes, and the conditions of life differ so much, that what might do for one man would be quite unsuitable for another. If the work is useful to others or to oneself, that is enodgh to constitute is satisfactory “The particular interest. or hobby ought to be commenced while people are still active at work, since the inclination and the aptitude to begin something new disappears, not rarely, long before sixty or sixty-five, the average age when a man retired from bis work-.' A great point is to keep up a variety of mental occupations and to keep awake the interest in many tilings so as to prevent mental torpor.”