National Republican., 1885-12-15
LONGEVITY.
The Means of Proionging Life After
Middle Age.

From the Wilmington (Dol.) Newsl
A condensed review of n work on this topic, by
John Gardner, NJ d., an eminent London
physician, whose speciality is dsoasesof tho
aged, accompanied by some cOmmon.sens0
observations on the subject,
The medical profession, as n rule, are not in
clncd to favor specialists speoialties. but the
public hold different opinion The proprloty
Of such spocialties scarcely admits of a
question, and special practitioners are
more skillful and experienced In their treat
ment than those who spread their practice
over the whole field of medicine. This applies
as forcIbly 10 the treatment of diseases of cid
erly persons as to any other branch.
Referring to the subject DR.. Gardner says: ut
would be very happy for us had wo mystic
cxllir capable of preserving life in spite OF old
damages and injurious habits--but we have
not There Is no short and sharp process to
stay the troubles OF the aged'
"a healthy and vigorous state OF every part
and every organ Is essential to the health and
well.bcing of the whole system, And as age
ing, or what is the same to our means of obser-
walton, begins sometimes locally and some
times over the system generally, we first look
for the local degeneracy, and finding none to
call Tor special remedies, we address ourselves
to the entire system. We have many and most
valuable agents capable of invigorating and
imp0rting tone to the whole. Aud these, judi
ClOusly selected and combined, and admins.
tered with n full knowledge and control over
greatly amcliorate the effects If not retard the
advance of agcing."
"To grow old gracefully is not the common
lot OF all. With advancing years come in
creased inilrmities; they are by no means in
evitable and their presence Is due to the fall
ure to keep up to their work the various or
gans Of the body. The study Of the body by
scientists furnishes unquestiOnable evidence
that the duration Of human life may be pro-
longed TO hundred years.
IL is an unqucstionablc fact that with each
century, and It's corresponding growth in
knowledge, the average duration OF human
On the subject of stimulants, DR.. Gardner
says: THE advocates of total abstinence
signally fail TO produce evidence in support OF
their opinion that all stimulants arc inimlcal
to health and longevity Science, common
sense, HolySoripturo, and all experience testify
to the benefits to be derived"
Referring TO the diseases and sudden attacks
which the aged are liable to-. he adds, "a
sudden indigestion, spasms chill caused by
exposure to wet or cold weather, temporary
depression of the vital forces. justify the use OF
spirits In proper quantity, and In such cases
IN the use OF spirits, the doctor has found, as
other doctors and invalids generally find. the
presence of an article harmful In It's nature.
Quoting his own words he says Elderly per.
sons who in winter suffer from cold feet, and
find artificial heat applied externally fails to
afford relief may, with undoubted propriety
and advantage, take whiskey aud hot water
follows, the inference is-tho spirit was impure,
probably containing fusel OIL A very slight
trace of this noNlous Ingredient in spirits VIII,
in some constitutions, produce headache-as
accurate, a test OF impurlty as chemistry can
employ"
used In ancient times, meaning "lhe water oi
life, and though not absolutely "the water oil
life" 1t possesses, when pure and made from
malt, more liie.giving and beneficial proper
ties than any other known article.