, 1885-12-23
LONGER LEASE OF LIFE
Differences Betwsen Youth and Cd Axs
The Secret OF Long Life.

DfneronccH ftetWoen houth ana va AEa
The senret OF Long Life.
The differences existing between youth
and old age are very clearly explained by
Mr.. De Lacy Evans. In youth the Various
organs and structures are elastic, yield
ing, and pliable; the senses are keen, the
mind active. In old age these qualities
are usurped by hardness, rigidity, and
Justification, while the senses are wanting
In susceptibility and the mind in memory
and capacity. The question comes, ITO
what are these changes duet" The an
swer is that they are the result, firstly, OF
a gradual accumulation OF fbrinous and
gelatinous substances; and, secondly, OF "A
gradual deposition OF earthly compounds,
chiefly phosphates and carbonates, Of
lime. There Is, In fact, a choking up of
the system, and " what is most apt to
cause this can be diminished in any way,
or avoided, life under ordinary circumstan-
ces may be prolonged. Consequently,
very much depends on what we eat,
drink, and what we breathe.
The gist Of Mr.. Evans, argument is that
If we can by artificial means arrest the
neyer-ceasing action OF atmospheric oxy-
gen, and at the same time prevent the ac-
emulation OF earthly compounds from
the food We eat, or even remove hem
oJolu8lf IN bbdtt VI bOdg hionh
as "old age" would be deferred, and life
would be prolonged for a heightened
period. Reference Is made to the patri-
srchs, and to the declaration OF Josephus,
that the food of the early Biblical heroes
vas adapted to the prolongation Of exist
ince; and Mr.. Evahs does not think 1t too
much to believe that the secret of long
life which has been lost for so many ages
nay be ~rediscovered.
However this may be, we have the rea-
sonable deduction; that II a human being
subsists upon food which contains a large
proportion Of lime, this substance will
enter largely into the composition of the
chyme, the chyle, and the blood; and as
from the blood the deposition OF lime
takes place, the greater will be the
amount deposited in the system, the
greater the degree of ossification, that the
sooner will be produced that rigidity, in
activity, and decrepitude which makes a
person old and causes premature death.
But, on the other hand, we are told that
II the food and drink taken to nourish and
support the body are selected from the
articles which contain the least moun
of lime, there will be less to deposit in the
system, and consequently n less degree OF
Justification, inactivity, and d~ecrepitude,
and n longer lease of life.
Mr.. Evans views support the vegeta-
rian theory, but a preference Is given to
fruits over cereals. He tells us that fruits
are nutritious in themselves; and
TO overcome the objection thatthey
are deficient in nitrogen, he shows
that all other elements are present in
them, and that we may absorb the def
cient nitrogen from the surrounding at
mosphere, the combination resulting in
albumen or protein. Persons who will
not be persuaded to change their diet may
yet with reasonable care prolong their
life; and to such the advise is given-to
eat moderately, to take no more thar
three meals a day, and to avoid eating
large quantities of bread, pastry, and
other farinaceous foods, The same rules
apply to those who are willing to alter
their dietary, with the addition that the
fruits should be taken IL possible at every
meal, and that the fruits should come
first, and then, If the appetite is not sat
isied, to finish with the ordinary articles
of food.-Leeds Mercury.