Senility and Intestinal Flora A Reexamination of Metchnikoffs Hypothesis

Abstract

In order to investigate the differences which may exist between the flora of the feces of younger persons in their prime and those of old people and to determine whether such differences cóuld be demonstrated between the feces of healthy and of senile old people, Drs. Orla-Jensen, Olsen, and Geill conducted experiments with the old people of De Gamles By and the young laboratory workers at the institution. They came to the conclusion that it is not the undesirable flora found in the aged which causes impaired digestion, but rather the impaired digestion which causes the undesirable intestinal flora.