New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-21
The Laws of Life.


DR.. FITCH lectured on Friday evening at Hope
Chapel in Broadway in continuation OF his course
of Popular Lectures on the Laws of Health and
Longevity. The house was crowded at early
hour.
In commencing the lecture DR. Fitch remarked
that question had been proposed to him by let.
ter, in regard to the asthma which he would an
swer by saying that he considered it one of the
most easily durable of all diseases provided the
patient would follow the course which Nature di-
rected 1t YVES a great mistake that people tall
into that the Doctor knows everything, when in
fact he knows no more of some things than other
people. The subject of the evenings lscture was
THE Laws of Life
1t is striking fact that in this country only
4 out of every 100 individuals live to the age Of
80 years In England however out Of every
100 attain that age In England the climate is
warmer and more temperate, bat it is moist and
damp, and has all those conditions which cOntr
butte 10 produce an immense amount of consump
ton The people are so confined and So closely
crowded-millions live so poorly, and in such mis-
cradle habitations that there is far greater ten
denCy TO this waste OF lite than IN Onr own coun-
try. Vet in America only 4, while in England p,
out OF every hundred reach the age OF GO years.
The reason is to be found in the different educa
ton in the habits ofthe people. There, experience
of the old is reverently regarded, and the expe-
renee OF tnG Olu Is taken az d Suitlc. LII ILLS
country this experience is but little regarded and
the young think they know much more than
their fathers that they follow only the teachings
of their own experience. The result is that he
often finds that he has a fool for a teacher, and
prematurey dies for his pains.
And the laws of life and health are of prime I'M
portance The house we live in" has these pur
poses-and it is designed to last good many
years. The mode of governing, regulating and
preserving this frame is not made subject oil ed
ucation by anybody. The physician does not
be begins at disease If there is any place to be
Gin at he should commence at health, but ne be-
gins at disease, and his abors often result IN
breaking down that and the patient together.
Why should one man live to the age OF l50
wears and not another Take the same crcum.
stances and why should not one man live to the
age of $50 es another Surely the beniticent GoD
is not impartial or unjust to give one lie when
he denies to another. 1t is to be deeply regretted
that we have not made health science for popu-
uar education.
The lecturer here mentioned the name OF some
persons noted for their longevity Parr, l52i len
kins 1863 Lawrence, 140; IN our own country, IN
Whitehall, n. y. in 1920, man died aged IA
THE Doctor exhibited a lock of silver hair taken
from MS head at the age Of 1881 j. h. Alabama
lS45 aged 40 with several others OF extreme
age Now look at this fact Human life in the
City of NewYork reaches % years-some years
it runs u to 90 or 80 but frequently p IS the
range of life in this City In Philadelphia the ra
no is to as so that life worth 80 per cent more
in Philadelphia than in New York. The causes
are multifarious One is to the found in the struc
ture of the houses. In this City, where it is the
almost universal rule to eat in the basement, an
immense amount of labor and effort is required to
ascend and descend, especially on the part OF the
aged. 1t would be al interesting task for some
mathematician T. compute the number OF hours
consumed, and the number Of miles travelled, In
New y ork, every day, in ascending and descend
ing the stairs to their meals In Philadelphia, the
dining-rooms are all on the level of the street.
This faction ofbuilding such large and high houses
is at war with the true economy OF life, but there
is no knowing when this City. built on stills, IS to
be bettered in this respect.
The lecturer proceeded to speak OF the laws OF
health, and dwet upon the indispensable neces-
sity of symmetry Of person, straightness and up
nghtness of the body, freedom and expansion OF
the chest, the means for securing these advan-
sages and remedies for those laboring under bent
or stopping frame. He then spoke OF the three
grand purposes of our being to feed the mind,
to feed the body and to propagate the species
However action may vary, IN whatever way It
may work in detail, all human fortresoyes itself
into one of these thee purposes.
The great object of life should be to make these
three balance haLmoniously, and stated sound IN.
terestng facts Illustrating the folly and danger OF
OF destroying tbs balance by excessive study, lit
tie exercise, improper or excessive food striking
Iy mpressing the truths he uttered upon the minds
OF the audience.