But new nerve-cells are
constantly being rebuilt, and constantly being put to use in the
organism. If this theory were true, then a brain in middle age would be
unable to function because of the impossibility of renewing its cells.

A much more reasonable and probably true explanation of the cause of old
age is the gradual disappearance of animal matter in the bones and
tissues, and the corresponding increase of the mineral matter in the
bones and tissues, amounting to ossification of cartilage, whereby the
supple cartilage, losing its animal content, becomes practically bone by
deposit of lime particles. This would also account in a common-sense
manner for the fragility of the bones of the aged, the brittleness being
due to calcareous deposits in the substance of the bone itself, in
excess of the normal mineral contents of the bones in youth. The
function of the seminal fluids, therefore, appears to be to restore to
the aging tissues this property, this animal matter, which when in its
right ratio and proportion in the cells of the organism produces the
condition of youth. The action of these seminal fluids, therefore, seems
to be two-fold, a dissolving and a nourishing. The distinction should be
clearly made that the action is NOT merely stimulating. The stimulation
of a nerve-cell is a temporary excitement. We speak of the stimulation
of alcohol, and this illustration gives a clearer view of the difference
between the nourishing action of the seminal fluids and a stimulating
action than we could obtain by the employment of many words. It is
interesting to remember that while it is possible to increase the
mineral particles of soda, potash, lime, iron, silica and magnesia in
the blood and lymph, it is practically impossible for us to increase the
animal contents of the cells by any method of medication or dieting
known to us. Only Life can produce this change in the cells, and only
this method of gland-transplantation has furnished a means of impressing
Life into service to work for us in this matter. To produce the effects
which are needed to rejuvenate a body that has increased its mineral
matter at the expense of its animal matter we require the co-operation
of glands made active, because only the glands, in the marvelous
chemistry of the body, are able to compound the animal substances
required to nourish the cells, tissues and organs of the body, and to
dissolve and remove those injurious substances of a mineral