ARTERIOSCLEROSIS. The term Ar teriosclerosis or «hardening of the arteries' seems an inappropriate one (though hardening of these vessels is mainly noticed) for the con dition is usually associated with heart and kid ney disease. Hence, some writers use instead, the terms or "Cardio-vascular — venal disease.' There is reason to believe that the disease is in reality a general one due primarily to a disturbance of or a disturbance of the relation of certain ma terial which comes from the food for the nour ishment and health of the cells of the body. Then the liver, spleen, thyroid gland, supra •venal glands and other metabolic function organs are affected, and the involvement of other organs is a matter of sequence. Har dening of the arteries is a very Important dis eased condition. Though found in the young it is usually a disease of advanced life, and prevails especially among the so-called °com fortable classes." It interferes with the proper supply of blood to various organs, principally the heart, kidneys and brain an4 may cause actual disease— filro-myocarditis, nephritis and a weakened condition of the arterioles of the brain, which very readily results in cerebral haemorrhage, one of the forms of apoplexy. The various steps in the production of arteriosclerosis are often — an acute illness or severe nervous shock, defective metabolism, organs concerned in metabolism don't act properly, kidneys be come sclerotic and do not eliminate waste products, then there is a rise of blood pressure to assist them, so the heart hypertrophies. Then comes an increase in connective tissue of the arteries with hypertrophy of their muscular ele ments and a thinning or a diffuse or circum scribed thickening of their lining membranes, and if affecting superficial arteries they are recognized as hardened For there may be sclerosis of internal arteries and none of the superficial. Arteriosclerosis may show irregu
lar patches of a gelatinous character which at a later period become hard, even calcified and cause arteries to become brittle like pipe stems. Among the causes which favor its development are changes in the blood from the infection of syphilis and chronic rheumatism, the excessive use of alcohol, the disturbed metabolism caused by diabetes, gout, Bright's disease, etc., and changes in the blood pressure. Arteriosclerosis is maintained and even caused by an overin dulgence of the appetites, and a sluggish mind and body as well as by the wear and tear of modern life, the struggle for wealth and posi tion and by excessive and prolonged muscular exertion and intense emotional activity, es pecially in middle and later life.
Arteriosclerosis, even if there is a tendency to inheritance, can frequently be checked by real temperance and moderation in all things food and drink work and play and emotional excitement. While medicines are necessary for special conditions, the removal from the diet of offending food elements, systematic and ap propriate exercise and keeping the intestinal tract clean are the principal remedies. See OLD