Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-11-07


chances of life, but it may be useful to
the physician. He may learn from il to
cherish tho hopes Of his patients in
chronic and some acute diseases, in pro-
portion to the capacity Of life they have
derived from their ancestors.
Temperance in Eating aud Drink
ing.-To this, DR.. Rush found few ex-
ceptions. He met with one man 81
years of age who had been Incorporate
in enting and four or FIVE persons who
had been Incorporate in the use Of ar
dent spirits. They had all been day
laborers, and had not commenced drink
ing until they began to feel the languor
of old nge. The Doctor was inclined
to the opinion that tea and coffee, not
withstanding they evidently impair the
strength of the system, do not materially
affect the duration Of human life. The
duration Of life is not always shortened
! by an infrm constitution, provided the
stimuli which operate upon the several
organs be Proportionate to their excita-
bility.
> 3.-1he moderate use Of the Under
Standing 1T has been an established
truth, that literary men, other circum-
, stances being equal, are longer lived
than other people. But it is not neces-
q sary, remarks DR.. Rush, that the under
standing should be employed upon phi
losophical subjects to produce this infiu-
ence upon the duration Of life. Bus
t ness, politics and religion, which are the
n objects Of attention common to men OF all
Il -. - tn tho mind
e which tends very much to produce health
o and long life.
$ 4.-Equanim;ty Of Temper.-The vi
n olent and irregular action Of the passions
d tends to wear away the springs Of life
a Persons who live upon annuities in Eu'
is rope, have been observed to be Longer
r. lived under equal circumstances, thar
is other people. This is probably owing tt
their being exempted, by the certainty
of of their subsistence, from those fears O
Is want, which so frequently distract th'
t, minds and thereby weaken the bodies o
,e all persons who are subjected to them
n. Life rents have been supposed to hav'
Id the same influence in prolonging life
" Perhaps the desire Of life, in order I
n, enjoy as long as possible that property
Id which cannot be enjoyed second tim
Sc by a child or relation, may be anothe
. cause Of the longevity Of persons VIII
,e live upon certain incomes. 1t is fac
E. that the desire of life is very powerfi
e; stimulus in proonging it, especially whe
n that desire is supported by hope. Th
in is obvious to hysicians every day. Des
a pair Of recovery is the beginning {
E. death in all cases.
tn 5.-Juai,imony. y.-In the course Of h
he inquiries, DR.. Rush only met with on
"; person beyond eighty years Of age VIII
to had never been married.
s. 6.-Sedentary Occupations. DR.. Rus
ye did not find sedentary employments
'r- prevent long life, where they were NJ
a accompanied by intemperance in eatin
lie and drinking. This observation is n
er confined to literary men, nor to wome
only, in whom longevity, without muc
a exercise Of body, has been frequent
ed observed. The Doctor met with an i
mt stance Of a weaver, a second OF sllve
en- smith, and third of a shoemaker,
n mong the number of old persons, who
y, histories suggested the foregoing obse
I'D vations.
in 7.-Loss Of The Teeth, &c.-The ear
la loss Of the teeth did not appear to Il
ild Doctor to affect the duration Of hum
life SO much as might. be expected. +
&C. ward Drinker, who lived to be 1903, Il
ter his teeth thirty years before he die
ms from drawing the hot smoke Of tobac
Of into his mouth through short pipe.
he Il N either did he observe badness or gr
m a hairs occurring in early or middle life
} to prevent old age. In an account lurni:
nile ed by lie Sayre, mention is made o
ent man Of 80, whose hair began to assu
ing a silver color when he was only elev