Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-25
mistellanp.
Remdrkdbte LOngevify.
The Oldest Man that has Lived since the
Christian Era.

The following article contains facts OF
great interest. There has been much dis
cusSion between different writers as to
who was the older man. John Parr or
David jenkins, and some doubt even has
been raised as to the evidence Of their
great longevity. In apaper By DR.. Allen,
OF Mass on Longevity, he laid much
stress on the fact that longevity was
hercdiiary-that very great age was sci
dom ii ever reached unless it existed in
the family. This paper OF DR.. Aliens
was copied entire into Inc Public Health.
of London, Immediately alter il was pub.
lishcd in this country; and the same peri.
odical, of May 10th, has the following
article from its editor. DR.. 4. Smith:
In an interesting paper on the Law Of
Longevity. with special reference to Life
Assurance. written by Dr.. Nathan Allen,
of Lowell, Mass, U s., and published in
Public Health of FEBRUARY 10th. great
stress is laid by the author upon heredi.
tariness. or. in other words. long lived
ancestry. ~ one oi the pre- requisites Of
longevity. Dr. Allen remarks. 1.-The in.
fuences OF hereditary descent have as yet
received but little attention. compared
with their Importance. even from the
medical profession, and before they can
ever be thoroughly understood, it will be
found, il we mistake no.. that there eS-
lists in physiology, rs fundamental prin
ciple, general law of propagation; and
as part and parcel of tho same. will
also be found this law of longevity. In
the matter Of Lille Insurance, n thorough
knowledge of these hereditary Influences
is of the utmost Importance.
Several of our correspon dents took
exception at the time to DR.. Aliens views
on this point, regarding them as rather
theoretical than actual. 1t is one Of such
great importance that any practical light
that can be thrown upon 1t will not be
without benefit.
l therefore propose to briefly describe
the history Of family which has recently
come under my notice, in which this
principle OF hereditary influence is strik'
ingly illustrated.
The immediate subject of my Note is
an old man, one David jenkins, whom |
have lately seen professionally. rs mat
ter of charity. he being i'll and in neees
sitous circumstances. Upon visiting him
/ found remarkably hearty.looking per.
son. evidently suffering more from debil-
ity induced by insufficient nourishment,
(5s. weekly, out of which IS. have TO be
paid for rent. being all the assistance he
and his wife. also aged. receive from the
parochial aulhorities) and from the in
furious effect of the cold weather, than
from any senile disease. although he is
ninty.three years Of age. None of the
more prominent signs of decay from old
age are present, Until recent date, he
has picked up triae occasionally by
doing little odd jobs OF work, such rs
mcnding chairs Che was formely cabinet
and chair maker). and carrying parcels,
or letters; when in health, the old man
is tolerably sound on his legs and can
walk fair distances.
He was BON at Swansea, where he
passed the first ifteeu years Of his life; {;
subsequently, lie went with his parents to
live at Bath, where he learned the busi-
ness of chair and cabinet maker; and
during the last thirty-five years be has