The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-15 00:00:00

THE COMMENCEMEN7 OF OLD AGE.

What are the signs of natural decay ? When does
old age commence ? The natural history of indivi-
dual death, without disease, is one of the subjects
which it remains for modern physicians to study.
When does the vital machine begin to wear out in
the typically healthy man, and what are the ways
by which normal decay, inevitable death, invades the
aged man ? With our modern means of precise obft
servation and minute pathological research we should
be able now to lay the foundation for the answer to
this most important question. The subject is sug-
gested to us by a most thoughful, able, and well-
written thesis on death, considered from the etiological
points of view, by Dr. Acosta, of Paris, which will re-
pay the perusal of reflective men. Discussing the
difficulty of determining the commencement of old
age, Dr. Acosta reminds us that, while the Greeks
regarded the age of 49 (seven times seven, their
climacteric number) as the culminating point of
human strength, and, at the same time, as the com-
mencement of decadence, M. Flourens holds that
decadence does not commence until the 70th year—
an age which the Chinese, according to Sir John
Bowring, regard as a metaphorical one, calling
those who have attained to it " rare birds," and
men of 90 years old " loiterers." The two climac-
teric ages of the Arabs were 63 and 81, being the
multiplication of nine (their magic number) by seven
and nine. Theage of 63 was eonsideredso critical that
it was called the grand climacteric, and the ancients
were accustomed to mutually congratulate each
other when they had passed it. Quetelet, to a
certain extent, admits the danger of this critical
period, for he says, " From 60 to 65 years of age
vitality loses much of its energy—that is to say,
the probability of continuing to live diminishes
greatly." M. Reveille-Parise, while, in common
with some other physiologists, allowing the
existence of two sources of strength in the constitu-
tion, which he names force in reserve and force in
use, believes that the physiological fact which reveals
old age is the progressive diminution of reserved
force so superabundant in youth. There
certainly exists some organisations which are
proof against the ravages of time and the attacks
of sickness and death. Some men at the age of 80,
90, even 100 years, have preserved their sensorial
and intellectual faculties, and great mental energy,
even to the last days of their life. A complete list
of them would be too long. We will, therefore,
only mention a few names. Plato died at the age
of 81, pen in hand. Goorgias continued his literary
labours to the age of 107. Socrates wrote his famous
tg panegyric of Athens" in his 94th year—Ea slip of
the pen, this, on the part of our learned contempo-
rary, who means here, of course, not Socrates, but
Isocrates]—Theophrastus his " Characters" at 99 ;
Cato learnt Greek after his 60th year; Cicero com-
posed his charming work, " De Senectute," one year
before his violent death ; Voltaire wrote a number
of tragedies, " Tancrede" and " L'Orphelin de la
Chine," among others worthy of his best time, at the
age of 65, and he came to Paris in his 81th year to
give himself an intellectual treat, the representation
of his tragedy of " 'rano." There are also still liv-
ing members of our profession, as well as the lite-
rary, scientific, and political world, who would
illustrate the list of Nestors, remarkable both for
their longevity and for the intellectual labours to
which they continue to devote themselves. Disraeli
has said, " Old age has been a thing unknown to
many men of genius."—
[The elder Disraeli may
have said this—but the younger Disraeli has said—
if we remember rightly, it is in " Coningsby"—" we
will not say that youth is genius, but, at any rate,
genius when young is divine."] --British Medical
Journal.

CURIOUS CONCEALMENT OF PROPERTY.—A re-
markable trial has just been decided in the Tribunal Civil
de la Seine, arising from the following facts:—A certain
Madame Tamisier died in the year 18G3, of small pox, and
among her effects a small lot of things, including a bell of
thread, was knocked down for 3f. to M. Audobert, who, a
couple of years afterwards, gave this ball of thread to a
Ivladlle. Fricoteau. After some time Madlle. Fricoteau, on
trying the thread, found it bad, but unwound it and cut
open the cushion on which she found it rolled. Inside
were 20 bank notes of 1,0001. each. She did not know
their value, but a friend of hers obtained gold for ono, and
she then told M. Audebert.of her good fortune. The matter
came to the ears of M. 'Cochois, the representative of
Madame Tamisier, who sought to treat the affair as a rob-
bery. In this respect he failed, but 17,0001. wero lodged in
court, and ho then proceeded by a civil action to recover
the 3,000 f., which they bad spent. After a long trial, in
which the advocates for the finders of the money argued
ably for them, they were cast, and ordered to return the
3,000 f. and to pay the costs.
ANOTHER DEATH FROM THE EXPLOSION AT WOOL-
-1 ' WlCH.—Yesterday afternoon John Here, alias Keating,
aged 13 years —whose parents reside at Samuel-street,
Woolwich—expired at the Royal Arsenal Infirmary from
the effects of injuries received at the late explosiou. This
makes tilo aftlvrictim.