New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-16
KEEPING ALIVE.
THE ART OF PROLONGING LIFE.


longevity those which obv lousy tend TO shorten life
need not BIO considered With respect to tho learned
professions 1t would appear that among the clergy the
average Of lfo is beyond that OF any similar class.
II is improbable that this average will maintained
for the future the dulles and anxieties Imposed upon
the clergy Of the present generation place them in
very different position from that Of their predecessors.
4 Among lawyers there have been several eminent
judges who attained great age. and the rank and
hA OF the profession are also characterized by de
on supps but % few of old SG ass
and the average duration OF life among its members
decidedly low, fact which can be easily accounted
for. BTOkcn rest, bard work, aDXicticS, exposure
weather and the risks OF Infection cannot tall
an INJURIOUS influence upon health. No definite con-
age longevity Of literary and scientific men. but 1t
might Be Supposed the, those among them Who srs
probably reach old age, As general rule, the du,
ration q life . not shor'GTsa G Literary pursuit."
his books when tired of them. may seek recreation
. pursuits , destructive to health but application TO
prolonS rather than shorten the life even OF an In
f nrm man In Professor Humphreys Report on Aged
Persons containing an account OF 524 individuals Of
| both sexes, and between the ages OF eighty and
hnndr.d u Is stated that ~ per cent were poor a
10 per cent wcr, described being in afiuent cir
r r.inS r Dr. Iiumphry points out that these
relations Of poverty and anlnencs 10 longevity be.
sanse In the first place the poor at all aSes and in
secondly the returns arc largely mado from the lower
nm.e: Of union workho os ' wherc ' good NUMBER
S pns s,I o. cso Is 1T be
that tho greater proportion 55 per cent +" had lived
IN comfortable circum,tanccs,7 and that only 81 per
II We pass from probable to improbable causes Of
Longevity we confronted by many extravaaant as
as panacca, but d cdclly conducive to length
has recorded the case q cen'eHars aD who used to
NIX MI, sugar Win all b: fool ard III" doctor hims" sell
substance that he adopted the practice and boosted
| Of his health and strength In his old age Another
doses Of tannn Cthe snbstance employed to harden
and prescry" leather, under the impression that tho
drray. Hl' NJ" was protracird beyond The ordinary
span bur IT. whether the tann'n acted
that hls cool health a"d advanced years were due,
IN rsrt At least 10 tho fe't hat he always wore
naS doubtless thereby kept within bounds: VIZ are
further RI, '"m hn. he was very morra. IN the use Of
to aid in prolonsins Mo- yet MrS LowsOn who
died in the carly part Of this century age one
porS5n ' ". s are % o GE nSo 81 WASHING ihs
,m"ard her fac" with lar and asserted that people
| doubt was fully persuaded that She had discovered
| tho universal medicine
| AN OCCUPATION NECTss ,RY
Having thus endeavorrd T. show the extent to which
human life may be prolonged. and having examined
! some 81 the ant"ccdcnts Of longevity, the
lat subject for inquiry is the by which 1t may
be attained. Certain preliminary conditions are OBJ
vous!y requisite; IN the Gr-t place there mast be
| sound constitution derived fIOm healthy ancestors
and IN the second there must b" freedom from organic
| d,eas" VI important organs. Given AL individual
who has reached the grand cl!maccric threescOre
| sLu uiee, anu III "houi urse TWO cCuui'Iois Al"
fulfilled. tie means best adapted To aintan and pro
| long his life constitute the question 10 be SOLVED.
II has been said that he who would long to be an
| old man must begin early to be one" but very few
persons deLgn~lly take measures IN early NE In orcr
| that they may live longer than their fellows.
| The whole term OF life may b. divided into three
m" g9s Of s h, and md 3 nr can %a rnEG
bet these two atnr phase, Of existence thu on"
should pass gradually INTO ,lc Other uni, the "nm
aud TIA" consequent triumph OF dsinccraunS forces ar
The P%.cn features Of tie 5rI Rer%d sh,h Ss
vent being mainly controlled by the general course Of
o mAs m. s s: Ss ,ss snoS o ss
ave and sixty the period beyond may DO considered as
Of Ss Chang s %' o, se has, stages arr
easily recognizable II is hardly Necessary to men.
Ing Of the frame The "nsrs, notably vision and
i"ssrncd the fOrrs Of the heart IS dninIshed; tie
lunsS ar" lees pcrm'abe manS OF the air cells lose
Is less breathing nirfsrr Is we'll a. less power Il.
mutanom,ly with these changes tho mind may
| IT, power hong remain In markell ooras With those
Of the body. one fact connected with advanced life
dat whIe he 10 u-o' that parted easily
exhausted the fccN IN T'>"rvc' ar oftrn So slight
- ~. ,.i.,. In 80, a,a suncrabund,nt. I'm AL.
."ntn' W. VI ", ~ ~ ,, ., u SI,,r,,n ana 4,
90, ,n,,,n.. ar, ,caIlv non existent The
some Instances ar prTUoal'y n 20 a., ISL, ,I.
recognition 81 thlS dincrehce Is on N,P"'a'' e"''
W NV WIS 'o. -, , - ,n' onf q, tbc saue tmc IN
enjoy u. occupation % some Ru u tos s 49,
>arS !, i Sta. ~, oil t,r,.s halter -
wear ont than rust out ana nc lattcf pnrrsN sp.
tO be sIcsdlly accomplished. ENrrN ono must nave
met With individuals who. while hlly ~cupcn VII
sNty or oven seventy years ~ age remained hal" ana
strong but aged with marvellous rapiity AFTER TIN,
qul ,hing work. a change IN their mental c"nhtIoh
becoming especially prominent Ther Is an obviOns
l.snn 10 be- learnt rom such Instances. but certain
are necessary In oid~r apply II proper
~ Wth regard ~ mental activity. there IS abundant
"a idcpcr hal m, mor, tho inircc tual faculties
,n,'o, r., g,,,cr the prlabilIty OF their lasting.
Tkc nIrr bc'nnc srunc,r after the vital force has
lncN DIV" o''"' ina,ir, n,int ami This
pa1sM W. ,aI rover f. thr true
rtrhl,nh =" ,r'" o.. Jeclre IN bodily