New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-21
A CHEAP ELLXIR.

That most men consider life worth living,
nOtwths anding the troubles which accompany
cXisic nce, is shown III the cagerneSS with which
in al times methods of prolOnging it have been
sought. ElNiIs of INN rtIiY have been
IL canned of by thousands, and many shrewd
cnalatans have found their profit in pretending
TO the possession of such pOliOns. Ponce de
Leon searched, in good faith, for a fountain
of perpetual youth in Florida. The myseri-
Gus Count of st. German and Cagliostro
claimed to have solved the problem. though
both of them died in the ordinary course.
Some of the prctenders to the elixir of MINOR
tally, il is true, asserted that they had pro-
longed their lives so far beyond the common
average as to have become tired of living, and
so were resolved TO lay down the burden.
But though any serious attempt to analyze
supposititous earthly immortality cannot but
prove that the gift, if possible, would lie
curse rather than blessing, men have always
imagined that TO live on without fear Of deah
would insure happiness. AS to the prolOnga-
ton of life by purely natural means such as
Cunero taught the use of, it has never had so
much attraction for he multitude, and perhaps
chiefly because it involves regimen and a
self-restraint and denial irksome 10 the ma
jonty
Many men who had attained hale old age
have given their experience to the world. but
The only conclusion TO I've derived from such
records is that what is one mans meat il an
other mans poison as the proverb has 1t.
Thus one octogenarian or monogram asciibes
bis longevity to stlict abstinence from slim
ulants, while another declares that he has al
tanned his hoary age by frequent po;ations
One old man keeps rigorous watch over his
diet. Another pays no attention TO what he
eas. One takes cons ant outdoor exercise
Another stays at home continually. SO that
it is impossible to gather from observations
of these cases any rules of general applca-
lion. Nevertheless the temptation to formulate
such rules is strong and 1t has recently over
come a Belgian professor named Ia ggTicyc.
This learned doctor has convinced himself
hat the true elixir of life is common salt
rhis, the doctor afliI1ns, is the great panacca
for all the ills that flesh is heir to. Salt will
cure everything, will purify the system,
Strengthen the constitution, keep Off old age
renew youth, aud prolong life indefinitely if
taken in proper quantities and at the right
times. As salt is cheap it is well to know
this though it must be said tha the expert
ence of mankind does not altogether reinforce
the Client professor.
comparatively short time ago sailed pro-
visions constituted the chief sulsis encc Of
EnIope. In England the common poop lived
upon them nine months in the year, and the
tables OF the nobility were little better SUD-
piled with fresh meats and vegetables. Nov
it is certain that in those DAYS scorbutic dis
eases were general. and the hold which great
cpidcmics like the Black Dca'h obtained has
been pEausb bly, explained by the almost univer-
sal excess in the use If salt food. When sea-
gong vessels were dependent entirely upon
salt provisions scuryy was "A dreadful scourgc.
ard probably often swept away more men than
the guns Of the enemy. The employment OF
is If recent origin, and it has
compile ely changed the conditions of maritime
life. These facts certainly do not support d.
Rarggraeye's contention, nor must it lie forgot
en hat many savage races appear 10 do very
vel without salt altogether, some Of them
even DISPLAYING a strong antipaihy 10 it. No
doubt il hos beneficial effect upon domestic |
cattle and horses, though wild animal, IA \ |
IHle seem not 10 need it. This, however. L. |
Isl ablishcd by experience that too much sal, |
produces disease and that good health nav |
he maintained without any salt. On the whole,
therefore,, probably the only rational conclusion |
IS that Dr. Barggraeye Has found silt bene- |
lcial in his particular case, and possibly IL may |
he. for him, remarkably cfficaci0us But the |
world is not justified in accepting his sweeping |
and there is no dan ger that |