White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-10-12

The other day at Edinburgh, before the British
association, Sir Duncan Glib, Bart London read
paper ON " Centenarian Longevity" His obser-
vations had reference TO the physical conditions
of centenarians, which helped to show how they
were enabled to reach such great age; and were
derived from u comparison in four genuine exam
pies he had himself seen. These he hoped to COM
plete to six in a few days by visit to two Others
near by. Of the four, two mere males, each 100
years Of age; and two females, aged l01 and 1O2
the last of the four was still alive. Regarding
their age there was no doubt, for he had been as
careful on that point as any believer in the non
sensical assertion of Sir George Cornwall Lewis,
that no one ever reached hundred years. The
author found IN all four the functions of breathing
and circulation performed with the most complete
and perfect integrity, there being absence even
of those changes usually seen rs the result of or
binary old age. The chest was well formed, and
of fairly good capacity; the cartlages of the ribs
were not ossified; the voice was good clear, So
nOrOus and powerful though little cracked and
tremulOus in two; its power depending upon the
capacity of the chest and integrity of the lungs.
The heart-the great organ of the circulation
quite healthy, and free from the chief sources
Of trouble in old persons namely, fat or its COM
pounds. This circumstance, although it did not
prevent moderate Qualification of the blood vessels
yet was a cOnservatOr of all the tissues of the
body, and especially prevented the occurrence of
those changes which tend to shorten life. There
was an absence Of the atharomatous changes COM
monty observed in old people. This explained the
appearance of the cOuntenance in all, and impart-
cd a sort of silvery expression with apparently
great tOughness of the skin, which the antlsor
deemed an essential peculiarity in persons over
ninety. All the special senses were unimpaired
except hearing. The eye was clear in all, the
sight excellent, all could read ordinary type with
ont spectacles; there was no arc or ring round
the clear part of the eye as observed in most peO
pie. The sense of smell was good, none smoked,
used snuff, nor chewed tobacco. The hearing was
somewhat impaired in three; in one of the males
it was acute that he could hear the slightest
sound. The mental facilities were active in all,
the memory good. The general health was capital
in ALL appetite and digestion good the latter in
deed uncOmmonly strong; all possessed the good
sound teeth they had masticatetl with when young.
From this it was readily understood their diges-
tive powers were capital. Taking then, the con-
ditiOn of mind and body presented by the four
undOubted centenarians, ii may be said that in
all there was absence of those changes usually
observed in persons approaching the allotted pc
Rod of three score and ten. These changes have
reference chiefly to the condition of the blood
sells and other tissues which are SO seldom found
absent. Suffice it to say, that complete compass
ure throughout life has had much to do with the
condition Of body permitting the attainment of
such great longevity; there was no hereditary
condition also to interfere with natures laws under
such circumstances. Climate dOesnot seem to in
to be numerous in Russia To reach that age. not
only must the constitution he naturally good
and healthy one, but all the great functions of
life must be performed without any impeachment.
If the special senses c0-Or,linately good they
assist in keeping up the conditions favorable to
longevity. But there is one change antagonistic
20 extreme longevity, and it is the most impor-
rant one-namely, the predominance of the athe-
omatous element which leads to those changes,
n the blood vessels especially, which close life at
he natural period Simplicity of regimen, and
avoidance Of those elements Of food which, in
heir assimilation, help to bring those changes,
nay ward it of altogether, although the author
vas not able to make out whether the four cen |
enarians he spoke of had been in any way par
icrlar ON this point In conclusion, he said he |
'eleved all centenarians were tired of life, how
yer extraordinary it might appear, and were |
thankful when it pleased God to remove them from |
his world.