The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-04-19
CURIOSIFIEs OF HUMAN VITAL
ITY.
Bxs. H. POTTER, NJ. D., HA1I1rON, Q.

tenacity to life the cause of DIS
ease, the average duration of NOR /
tai existence, and the resulting
mortality. Most civilized nations
have a bureau Of statistics to make
careful and special investigations
into these subjects, upon which the
welfare and perpetuity of ali good,
human institutions are based. OBJ |
viously, few things are Of greater
momentto every individual, or
moreeagerly sought for by the
intelligent. To note some of these
important facts, is the object Of this
article.
The average of human births
when compared with those of the
deaths are, when not modified by
pestilence, war, or famine, about in
the proportion of 140 Of the former
to 100 of the latter, and of nearly
q uniformity the world over. A
birth now occurring at every average
beat of the human pulse, and a
death moro than twice at every
normal adult breath. "Hale and
female created He them" the i'm
print of sex fixed by the Creator,
as the only cause of this important
distinction, defies every effort of
science, aided by scalpel and mi
croscope, to disprove. Sex is the
earliest and most potent of all the
elements in the Individual life.
These distinctions are early, nu-
merous and we'll marked. The
average weight Of male infants, is
one pound more than that of the
females; their strength and stature
greater, their heart throbs stronger
and their pulse q few beats faster
to the minute. The brother de-
velops unlike his sister, his muscu-
lar force becomes one-third greater;
his flesh firmer his bones larger,
firmer and unlike hers in shape.
With collar bone more curved and
pelvis narrower, other distinctions,
give him power to hurl stones,
WELD the sword, endure greater
toll, to walk and run more easily
and gracefully, all showing that he
was intended to act as brother
should-care for and protect his
sister and meet the Bullets of un-
toward fortune with courage, self
reliance and endurance.
Figures in statistics here assume
interest. They show that the aver
age height of man has been in all
ages, about five feet eight inches,
and this weight one hundred and
thirty-eight pounds; while that
of the average height of woman, is
but five feet four inches, and their
weight ten pounds less in proper
ton. Our American citizens and
soldiers are distinguished for an
. average of broader chests and
greater weight, in proportion to
their height, than those of England
and France in average height, but
measure more around the chest and
weigh heavier.
Like many other problems in
nature, a strange Contradiction
meets US here-a problem which
all efforts of science have failed to
solve. 1t is natural to suppose
that man, with a more vigorous
frame, a sturdier form, better, open
air, more of cheerful sunlight, a
greater quantum of invigorating
and hardening exercise, would have
more good health, and attain
greater average longevity buf, in
this, as in many other of our
selfconceived, well-grounded prop
ositions, the memorable facts prove
1Oraoiaalv tho v.ava,.oa A hOu4 6va
per cent. more male than female
infants are born, but at five years
of age more female children are
alive than males. "The expecta-
ton of life"-a term used by life
insurance companies to indicate the
average duration, at any age, yet
to ive-is greater in women than
in meD to a very. pronounced de
gree. In most countries three
women live to the ago of ninety
years to one man, and sixteen tC
one become centeEarians.
The delicate skin, the fragile
bones, the rounded outline, the re
dundance of hesh-all character,
istics of infancy-are preserved
life long, more generally in the
female than in the male sex. Hence
it is more in accordance will
scientific and practical accuracy t.
say that the child is the mother OF
the woman than the father of the
man.
It may not be amiss to reflect
upon and seek for an intelligent
solution of this hitherto enexplicablt
enigma. In the delicate and tender
age of early childhood the boy il
more impulsive and reckless il
more exposed to accidents, to sud
den coIds-hence to attacks OF
acuteldiseases. It is a fact well un
derstood by the physician of ex
perience, that in cases of severe
sudden attacks of all diseases a
any age, that the hitherto robust
those full of rich, red blood
engestions are more severe, in,
fiammation more intense, and ter.
inmate earlier and result In a much
larger per cent. of mortality. TIC
this rule, the diseases and casualties
incident to childhood form no ex-
ception. Other and quite different
causes operate throughout man
hood, and one more deeply to be
regretted, because they might be
avoided, which bring untold
myriads to great premature suffer
ing and sorrow, ending in untimely
graves. All will concedeto woman
= more conscientious regard to
tious, profigate, and debauehed
father, who would, but for her, pre-
cipitate all she holds dear, prays