Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1886-12-16
LONG. HEALTHFUk LIFE.
A Case Of Longevity in the Six
teenth Century.
Lewis Cornaro, an Italian Q2ntenarian
Who Unfolded His Secret of Health and
EnJoyment-Bs temperate in All
Things, Useful and Cheerful.


Luigi Cornitro was descended from
an illustriousi family of Venice, where
he was born about the year l463. Ow-
ing to some political misfortune in the
family he was debarred from all right
to share any public honor, or in any
employment of the republic. He mar
ried one Veronica, of the family of
Spilem5ergs, at Undine, a city of Firuli,
by whom he had daughter. Clara.
This daughter married II gentleman of
fortune, having large possessions in the
island of Cyprus, by whom she had
eleven children, of which Cornaro
sleaasse with much pleasure and delight.
Chagrincd at being excluded from any
participation in public affairs, he re-
tired to Padua, where he had consider
able estate, and resided there the re-
mainder of his life.
He tells us, in little book which he
wrote when nearly q hundred years
old, that he was formerly of hot,
choleric disposition, and that his con-
stitution, naturally delicate, became
after while in such deplorable condi-
ton from his excuses that, before at
tanning the age of forty, his physicians
announced to him that unless he COM
pletely revOlutionized his mode of life
his days would soon como to an end.
Upon desiring them to inform him eX-
actly what course he mSst pursue they
replied THAT he must always manage
himself as a sick person, eat nothing
but what was good, and that in small
quantity" He had sense enough to
heed the simple prescription; or, as he
expressed it: II thought it disgrace
not TO have courage enough to be wise"
He began ut once to lead sober life,
and by degrees accustomed himself so
much to the habit of being temperate
in all things that ut the end of a year he
found himself mach 9Scovered in health
and free from the pains of indigestion,
fever govt and lother ills which had
afflicted him. Elated with his success,
he became enamOred with the enjoy
ments of health, and Observation-Disclosures
with care and assiduitv the habits of an
absteInious as we'll rs Il sober, right
eous and godly life.
The rules which he practiced and
offered for the guidance of others were:
First, in taking care OF the quality. so
as to eat and drink nothing which
would offend the stomach; secondly, in
the quantity, SO that no more should
be eaten than could be easily digested.
1t was also Cornaro's theory and prac-
tice that, rs we advance in years and
our powers naturally weaken, we
shonld not tax or oycrburden them by
efforts to create strength which the
constitution was notcapable of produc-
ing. He therefore. limited himself
gradually TO that quantity of food
which he deemed proper to sustain
life, so that ut the last the yelk of an
egg often suiiiced for a single meal.
Health under thisoreGime became p
Pleasant hobby with him, and certainly
Served 10 make his life happy, useful
aid long. This extreme abstemious-
ness, though successful in his, might
not be so in every case. therefore he
advised each to study his own consti-
tuition and 9gijust himself accordingly;
but that temperance in all things is the
one thing requisite. When nearly
eighty he yielded to the arguments of
his friends, that his constitution re-
quired more nourishment than he
allowed himself, and was induced to
try the experiment. 1t had liked to
have proved fatal. Notwithstanding
the increase was very small. in twelve
days. from a state of pe1fect health, b
was attacked with collie. sleeplcssness,
and finally thrown into a fever from
which he hardly recovered.
Not only i'll his. diet w as Cornaro
particular, but he used other means
conducive to health. He avoided as
far as possible exposure to the weather,
abstained from all violent exercises
and late hours. One other important
habit which he adopted was, he says,
mot to abandon myself to melancholy
by hanishing out of my lniE whatever
might occasion it." He also offers@the
true argument that a temperate life
fortities the constitution to with
stand the exposures to the ills
and accidents of life, and cites the
occasion, when he WAS seventy years
of age, of being overturned in his car
rage and dragged considerable dis
lance. He relates that They took me
out of the coach with my leg broken,
a leg and arm out of joint, and. in s
word. in Il very lamentable condition.
They sent for the physician. who eX.
pected / could not live three Gays to an
end. However. they resolved upon the
letting of blood to prevent the coming
of fever, as often happens in such cases
= ] was SC confident that the regular lif,
which had led had prevented the con
tracing of any i'll humors that L OPP
posed their prescription. / ordered
them 10 dress my head, to set ny les