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fluid ounce (15 ml.) in the prevention powder or in a skimmed dried milk powder
emulsified into a drink.
There are some hormone deficiences which are quite common—thyroxine, androgen,
anabolic steriod, oestrogen and progestogen. Our experience of using these has thrown
up some points of interest.
Thyroxine
We have found hypothyroidism to be quite common in old people. We believe
it requires to be dealt with at a stage earlier than frank myxoedema. The standard
textbook description with dry staring hair, and thick myxoedematous skin and other
features is a late stage. We have come to rely on four pointers to help us in the
diagnosis of this deficiency at an early stage: these are low temperature, low voltage in
the electrocardiograph, lengthened ankle-jerk return measured electrically, and radioiodine
uptake tests. We use Wayne's index (Wayne, 1960) as a guide to the general
symptoms and signs. We measure the temperature with the electric probe, which is
quicker and more accurate than the mercury thermometer. A temperature lower than
97-2°F during the day is suspicious.
Androgenic and anabolic steroids
For some years we gave patients with osteoporosis our prevention powder containing
extra calcium and magnesium, together with citrate, vitamin D, and fluoride. On
clinical impression only we felt that this supplement to the diet was not sufficient to
control the progress of the bone absorption. We believe now that androgens for men
and anabolic steriods and oestrogens for women are necessary for the prevention and
control of osteoporosis. Some clinical features of androgen deficiency are fatigue, backache,
shrinking skeleton, failing strength, loss of muscle tone as in the sagging cheeks;
and loss of virulence. We devised a test to try the effect of replacement therapy. We
observed 144 people divided into two groups (A and B), each group containing 19
men and 53 women. Each person in Group A was matched for age, sex, and as far
as possible for build and status, with a person in Group B. The ages ranged from 55
to 87. All of them showed signs of androgen or anabolic steroid deficiency, and many
had other features of the multiple deficiency syndrome. In group A the men were
given fluoxymesterone (ultandren) and the women methandienone (dianabol). The
trial went on for six months, and at the end we had 18 men and 44 women in each group
for comparison. The difference in favour of the treated group was unmistakable: in
comparison with the others they improved in strength; the muscle tone improved; aching
spines were relieved; they put on weight; their photographs showed fewer wrinkles, so
they looked younger; they were able to do tasks which they formerly neglected; in some
of the men sex function returned and the whole attitude to life changed for the better.
In our prevention powder we include an androgen (for men) or an anabolic steroid
(for women) for those people showing signs of deficiency. We are impressed by the
usefulness of this procedure.
Maintaining the health of older women
Oestrogen is one of the hormones devised for the preservation of the human race.
It is responsible for the attractiveness of girls. Every girl depends on oestrogen for her
glossy attractive hair, beautiful complexion with the clear, translucent, smooth skin,
bright sparkling eyes, long lashes, well-shaped eyebrows, graceful neck, and smart
figure. We like to think she is always steady and reliable, conscientious and not easily
ruffled or upset.
Somewhere about the middle forties her oestrogen output begins to fall; the decline
goes on for some years until about the middle fifties when it will have fallen to one-
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