The Washington critic., 1885-12-12
LONGEVITY.
The Means of rrolonging Life After
Middle Age.

trRoM THE wI1MfsGToN DELI HBws.1
A condensed review of work on this topic,
by John Gardner, NJ D., an eminent Lon
don physician, whose speciality is diseases
Of the aged, accompanied Ivy some com
nonsense observations on the subject.
The medical profession, as a rule are not
inclined to favor specialists or specialtes,
but the public hold a different opinion. Thc
proprety Of such 5pecalties scarcely admits
Of question, and special practitioners arc
more skilliul and experienced In their treat.
ment than those who spread their practice
over the whole field OF medicine. This
applies as forcibly TO the treatmant OF dis
cases Of elderly persons as TO any other
branch.
Referring to the subject, DR.. Gardner
says: at would be very happy for us ha
wet mystic elixir capable Of preserving
life in spite Of old damages and injurious
hnbils-but we have not. There Is No short
md sharp. process to stay tho troubles OF
the ogcdn
IA healthy AMI vigorous state Of every
pant rud every organ ia essential TO the
health aud woll-bcing Of the whole system,
aud us apcing. or what is the same TO our
means Of observation, begins sometimes To-
| Cally and sometimes over the system gen
orally, We first look for the local degcneI-
| Hcy, and finding none TO call for special
| remedies, we address ourselves TO the entire
system. We have many and most valuable
hpetts capable OF inVigOrRtinn and inn art.
ing tone to the whole. And these, Judi
ciouely selected aud combined, aud admin
| istcred with full knowledge aud control
| over the diet, regimen aud habits OF APE
| tent, will greatly amclioraie the effects II
not rctaId tie advance Of ageing"
"To grow Old gracefully is not the
common lot Of all. With advancing years
come increased inilrmitcs; they are by no
means inevitable, aud their presence is due
to the failure to keep up to their work ths
various organs Of the body. The study of
| the body by scientists furnishes unquestiou-
able evidence that the duration OF humln
| life may be prolonged TO n hundred years
II is an unquestionable fact that with
each century, and its corresponding growth
| in knowledge, tue average duration of hui
man life is Increasing.
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 ure in
imical TO health and longevity. Science,
common sense, Holy Scripture aud all ex-
perierco testify to the benefits to be dc
rived.'
Referring to the diseases and sudden at
tncks which the aged are liable to, he adds
"a sudden indigestion, spasms, u chill
caused by exposure to wet or cold weather,
temporary depression of the vital forces,
| justify the use of spirits in proper quantity
nn9 in such cases they are invaluable"
In the use Of spirits. the Doctor has
found rs other doctors and invalids gener
ally find, the presence Of an article harm
full In its nature. Quoting his own words
he says: "Elderly persons who in winter
suffer from cold feet, and find artificial
heat applied externally fails TO affords re
lief, may, with undoubtcd propriety and
advantage, take whiskey and hot water on
going to bed IL q headache or foul tongue
follows, the Inference is-the spirit was i'm
pure probably containing fusel OIL A very
slight trace Of this noxious ingredient Ii
spirits will, in some constitutions produce
hcadsche-as accurate test Of impurity a
chemistry can employ
The word whisliey is derived from wore
used In ancient times, meaning "the waite
Of life,n and though not absolutely "th
water of life,n It possesses, when pure anC
made from malt, more lfe-siving and bene
fetal properties than any other known ar
| tiClC,