Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-11-07

" So far, Button lays down the true
physiological problem. The length of
life is a multiple of The length OF growth.
His own deductions as to the true multi
pie were uncertain, because his data
were so. He did not know accurately
at what age the growth of man and 9th
er animals really ceased, OF what was
the true sign of such cessation. At this
point NJ. Flcurens takes the question up:
and with more accurate anatomical and
physiological data, he has arrived at
what he believes and at what certainly
appear more reliable results.
al fnd." he says, "ihe true sign of
the term of animal growth in the re-
union of the bones to their epiphyses.-
So long as this union does not take place,
the animal grows. As soon as the bones
are united to their epipyses, the animal
ceases to grow.
''In man, this re. union takes place at
the age of twenty years, and he lives to
ninety or hundred. The following ia.
BILE contains the other data given by NJ
Flourens -
"Man grows for twenty years, and
lives ninety or hundred the camel
eight years, and live forty; the horse
FIVE, and lives twenty five; the OK four,
and lives fifteen to twenty; the lion four,
and lives twenty; the dog two, lives Ten
to twelve; the cat, one and a half, and
lives nine or ten; the hare one, and lives
eight; the guinea pig seven months, and
lives six or seven years"
"By these dala the result of Button is
corrected. All the larger animals li0e
06ost fUe times longer than they grocC, in
stead of six or seven times, as inferred
by Button. Thus by physiological
analogy the ordinary natural life of man
is fixed at hundred years. He grows
twenty. and five lwenties make up the
hundred. If some few live beyond the
hundredth year, it may be that their nat
ural growth was also unusually prolnng-
ed. Or some extraordinary prudence
in living or uncommon constitutional
strength, may have secured for these
rare individuals their extraordinary
length OF life."
But is an old age thus protected-a
life continued to the full period of one
century only worth struggling for SOL
onion sperks of them as ''evil days." as
years in which man shall say, 81 have
no pleasure in them-when the grass
hopper shall be burden, and desire
shall fall Physical strength declines
as old aye advances, but does old age
bring no compensation ? The physical
loses, but the moral gains, says Cicero.
More than the physical loses" says
Button. "It makes one wish to become
old" says Montaigne.
Some one asked the philosopher Fon-
tenelle, when ninety.JfDe years of age,
which twenty years OF his life be regret
ted the most. 81 regret little, said he,
and yet the happiest years of my life
were those 6etaOeeu the fifty fifth and seq
enty fifth. At tify-fve mans fortune
is established, his reputation made, con-
sideration is obtained, the state of life
fixed, pretensions given up or satisfied,
projects overtnrown or established, the
passions for the most part calmed or
cooled, the career nearly completed, as
regards the labors which man owes to
society; there are fewer enemies, or
rather, fewer envious persons who are
capable of injuring us, because the
counterpoise of merit is acknOwle- -ged
by the public voice.
But, if cd age he an enjoyable period
of Gle-if it be really worth living to
and living fort is worth caring for
when reached. How is it to be chcered,
provided for and specially upheld. NJ
Reveille Parise has laid down four SIM
pie rules:
g The first is to knou hov to be old.
There is very much in this rule. Few
people know how to be DID, was one of
the sayings of Rocheloucauld.'
"The second rule is to know ons s self
aOeH. Both OF these precepls are more
philosophical than medical, and yet both
lie at the basis of successful medical
management, at the period when age
and ill-health are so likely to conjoin.
4" The third rule is TO make suita5le
adjustnaent in tie daay lie. Good phys
ical habits produce health, as good MOI al
habits produce happiness Old men
who do every day the same thing. with
the same moderation and the same relish,
live forever. 'One can scarcely be.
lieve, says Reveille Parise, how far Il
little health well Treated wi carry us. ,
And the rule of the age says Cicero,
is to make use OF what one has, and to
act in every thing according to ones
strength
And the fourth rule is to attack every
nqtGdy at its beginning In youth there
is a reserve of force-a dormant life, as
it were, behind the visible acting life
The FIRST life being in danger, the second
life comes TO lis aid-and thus youth
rallies after much neglect and i'll usage,
and still lives on. But old age has no
such reserve Of life. Every ailment OF