The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-30
WHY THEY LIVE LONG.


Aged People of New England.
All that we know about the things that
seem to govern the length of mans life is
what we have learned from limited observa-
ton ard the small number of cases that
have been imperfectly recorded in history or
in medical works. 1t occurred to me, writes
Clement Milton Hammond in the Popular
Science Monthly, that if accurate statistics
| could be cole ted, of about 1000 men and
women, over so years of age. living in New
| England today, such information would
| form the basis of some very interesting and
| very valuable conclusions. ] found this a
| comparatively easy task. l had 5000
| blanks printed, asking for miscellaneous
| information in relation to men and women
| over So More than 8, 500 of the blanks were
| filled out and returned in the course of two
| months.
A very peculiar thing revealed by the
canvass is the fact that five out Of six of
these New England old folks have a light
complexion, with blue or gray eyes, and
abundant brown hair. In stature the men
are mostly tall and the women of medium
hight; in weight the men range from 100 to
100 pounds. with few of 200and over, and
the women from 100 to 100 pounds, with
exceptional cases of 1870 and over. Through
out life the men have been bony and muscu-
lar, the women exactly opposite. The con-
dition Of the hair, teeth, beard and slAn of
these old people at the time when the blanks
were filed out was recorded in about 9, 800
Instances. In nearly all the hair remains
thick, the teeth are very poor and are en-
tirey gone, the skin is only slightly wrin-
Killed., and very few Of the men wear any
beard. In many instances the co?respon-
dents speak of the skin as being fair, soft,
smooth aud moist"
The information which the blanks give on
the subject of habits comedies with the
opinion Of most people, formed from obser-
walton, that longevity without regularity
of habits is rare. These old people, men
and women alike, are put down as early
risers and retirers, almost without excep
ton, and fully nineteen out of every twenty
have observed this custom throughout life,
except perhaps at some short period in
youth. Meals have been eaten regularly,
three each day, with dinner at noon, the
exceptions being so rare as to indicate
nothing. Exercise in most cases has been
hard work up to Is or 20. and after that
period has consisted when the regular
occupation has been given up) of walking,
g4rdening, or 10th. Except in cases of
sickness, these old people are as rule as
active and as fond of constant occupation
ofsome sort to-day, as most men and women
are at IS.
The blanks tell one simple story with so
| few variations as to be positively mono
| tonous in relation to the food eaten by these
old people. The diet has been regular
| New England home dishes Of meat, vege-
tables and pastry. with breakfast early
dinner at noon and supper late. Very few are
mentioned as small eaCers or large caters !;
most are mentioned rs not particular, with
| good appetites through life. A half dozen
never eat meat, and two have abstained from
| far thav, Htrla
habltual users of tea and coffee, aud Of the
remainder nearly all have drank tea. Few
| of the men and none of the women are
| given az. users OF moro intoxicating bever-
| ages than cider, and not dozen out of oil
! have ever used liquors TO excess. leu of
! the women are mentioned as habitual smok-
ers and score as snuif-takers. or tho men
a large ma jority have used tobacco-either
! chewing smoking, or both. Most OF the
tobacco users have been moderate, although
numbers of cases are given where the
| amount consumed is enormous, and con-
tnued constantly up to the time when the
census was taken. A few broke away from
! the habit after it had lasted for twenty,
thirty or fifty years aud have'now been
without the narcotic for perhaps decade
| or more.
THEIR OCCUPATIONS.
One OF the most significant facts gathered
in this canvass is that regarding occupa-
| tons. Out of 900 men throughout life 46l
have boon farmers. 92 have been carpen-
ters, 20 merchants, 81 mariners, 40 laborers,
AZ shoemakers, Al manufacturers, % clergy
men, % masons, 16 blacksmiths, 16 bankers
! II each ironworkers, mill hands, physicians
and lawyers, and the rest are divided
among nearly all the other trades and pro-
fessions The list includes only one each Of
the following: Hermit, hunter, chemist,
professor soldier, broker ,auctioneer, jockey.
contractor. Nearly all. however. began life
upon the farm.
Eight hundred out of 1900 women have
been farmers wives, and all but about fifty
Of the remainder have been housewives
| Four women only, all unmarried, have
supported themselves through life by in
! herited wealth. and are now aged respect
lively SO. SO, So and 30. Three other unmar-
ried women have been milliners, aud six,
one unmarried, have been dressmakers.
Seven. two unmarried, have been nurses.
Six, two unmarried, have been school
teachers
Out Of 1,049 men, 3s2 never were III since
early childhood, and OF $50 women, 2sd
have enjoyed the same good health. Ono
hundred and fourteen men and III women
have had petty diseases only, aud 49j mon
and 402 women have been seriously i'll. The