The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-08-03
Duration of Animal Life.

1HE duration of the life Of any particu-
lar animal depends on its kind OF structure,
elementary and anatomicallY, as well as
upon its place and mode OF subsistence.
BONE have their lives extended to Cen
tury, whilst others live but few hours. If
we examine the longest lived, such as
some reptiles, the whale, some kinds of
BIRDS, the elephant, and man, we will find
the tissues OF which they are composed,
are so slowly changed, under the normal
condition OF their lives, the growth, aD-
sorptlon, and renewal of them beng Of
such q character, that the induration
which makes the decrepitude of age, is
slow IN taking place The land tortoise, a
reptile well known for longevity, is con-
structed OF geiaunous muscular fiber
with comparatively soft bones and She'll
lie lives on vegetable matter, moves about
slowly, becomes fat and is torpid during
the cold weather. With few enemies to
modest him when encased in his shell,
those that pass from the egg state to this
defense i've year after yearin lazy security
ana answer the purpose of their creation
Ihey 90 not harden and grow stiff by ex-
cesslve labor as do man, the horse and the
dog, and thus become prtmatureIy old
Flsh, particularly the larger kinds, attain
great age. Whales are supposed &c live
century. But little accuracy can be ex
pected Ill computing the years these mon
sters roam through the different
seas, but evidence from harpoons bearing
ship marks, and dates, found imbedded in
captured whales, is conclusive that the
adult whale will live the greater part of a
mans life without Undergoing much
change. The slow propagation of these
monsters, the sottneSS OF their muscular
Mo; enveloped in fat, their food, ali tend
to that slow assimilation and expenditure
OF nutritious matter, which is mos con-
slstent with long life.
The peculiar life element, nitrogen
plays an inpor ant part in the duration of
animal existence. Where the food con.
slstS almost entirely of 1itrofeuous com
pounds, such as flesh, the greater amnunt
OF vitality impaired to such as live on
thls food, hurrles them through their ey
lstence, other conditions being equal, in =
shorter time than those which feed on a
less stimulating nourishmcnt The tor
tolse and the whale are supported by veg.
etanle, and other matter, that contains but
little nitrogen compared with food of car
nlVerous animals. The whole lion tribe.
Whatever may be their magnitude and or
2anlzalon soon show symptoms of age
Inc eXertlon necessary to procure food
strains every muscle to its greatesf ten
sion, and these muscles need constant
supplies OF highly animalized matter to
restore their waste. Tnis wearing swsv.
ana renewal, hardens the tissues that are
thus constantly in a state of action until
they become unfit to perform their per
ftct functions, aud at a period early com
pared with the time it took to bring them
to maturity, these carnivora fall into de-
ss.-S. An old Un'.:,-"'lt lion is not unusual
u the jungle The buffalo, rhinoceros
and hlppopotalnus, less stimulated by
.heir vegetable TODD. and less exercised in
I's procurement live to greater age.
Without bringing other examples in
PROOF OF tue kind of food AID exertion
necessary 10 maintain life having an in
nuence upon longevity, the laws that op-
sraIe 70 This end, when duly considered,
III sho" the harmony of the whole
!, ai.economy. The time appointed Tor
ne lhdivleuals OF each race to live, seems
adjusted to the accomplishment of their
scuIiar work. The ephemera, in the sun
'nine lor rev hours, fulfil their function
'iu oie. 1helr larvae are longer in coming
. maturity, out one short season rounds
ne whole existence, from the embryo to
ne perfect insect, and during tn, SC stages,
'hetner 1t has been created for deviation
y 10 De devoured by some other, the wave
u NE mas sweiled and subsidized All thst
Cni.lis can rest until another season.
'hen by the ali and the sun it will be sci !
4 motion to repeat the same phenomena !
, :, Dslngs having purposes TO accom-
'tlsn tlat cannot be embraced in so short |
period, nave slower organization.
Ii would be curious to trace the connec |
lo s between the elements of the air and
ll!uences OF the sun in the life process,
~ 70 accurately determine how much
it.ogen, one OF the elements of the air
~ tne principal constituent of all the
i'aL psrts OF animals and plants, has to
Q with The duration of organic existence
hat kind of structure REQUIRING Alto.
ether food of which this element conSt;
ties the greatest part, such as the wiser.
no TEST of animals, should. with The
igor impaired to it by such aliment i've
long as that depending on the scantv
ipply OF nitrogen obtained from vege,a.
les, Is not Consistent with the ifiea fhst
re desc-ep}tude of old age is notbing
oTe than the hardening of Tissues Inv the
mount OF resistance they have had tn
'ercome- The life force is most ranidlv
II most powerfully expended ia the car
wa, ano II they are such as by their
aoi's require daily supply TO meet the
lerCse TO which they are daily sI,biect1I
lelr nves must be shorter than tbosa o.
although not as powerf,lIS
Aieo into action, that feed upon veoata.
es. In the latter, the life process heinz
over, 1nduration is later in CAUSING 40.
B. Coleman, " b IN ,
eecher's Kasazine. ~ I"