Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-16
SECRET OF LONG LIFE
GAN 4 HEALTHY PERSON PRoLoNG
 HIS LIFE TO POO YEARSi

The Theory of "Retarding Vital Consump-
 tion--FrankIin and the Elies-work the
 Heart Does-Recent Experiment In the
 Partial Vegetarian System.
 Among the various fantastic theories for prolonsing life one of the most popu- lar at the end of the eighteenth century was what was called ''retarding vital consumption. " Maupertuis fancied that a complete suspension of vital activity, \ sort of Rip Van Wrinkle sleep, might be produced so as to check self consump ton. Bodies in this state could be laid away and then resuscitated after a lapse of two or three centuries. Benjamin Franklin even, while living in France, seems to have had faith in this. One day he received some bottles of wine from Virginia. In one of them-only one-were a few dead flies, which the great philosopher resolved to utilize in an experiment.. The month was July, and these imported flies, which had been on a spree in Virginia, had fallen into the native wine and had been in this stats shipped to France, where they wero exposed to the heat of the French sun. Three hours passed, and the winged Virginians came to life after an appar- ent death of many weeks. At first a sort of convulsive movement seized them. They began then to use their legs, walked around awhile, and seem- ing to be aware that they were in Franco immediately concluded to make their toilet by rubbing their eyes with their fore feet, using their hind legs to smooth out their wings. They then flew away to associate with Paris flies Franklin wrote of the incident:
 "Since by such a complete suspension of all internal as well as external con- sumption it is possible to produce a pause of life and at the same time to preserve the vital principle, might not such n process be employed in regard to man? can imagine no greater pleasure than to cause myself to be immersed, along with few good friends, in wine and to be again called back to life at the end of 50 or more years by the genial solar rays of my native country, only that I may soc what improvement the state has made and what changes time has brought with it.
 It was once thought that people died from lack of what physicians called "the vital principle. It is a phrase that has fine, vague, mysterious sound, but it really means little or nothing. Or, in | other words, it is now conceded that death comes from disintegration, very l gradual often, it is true, in all the bod lily organs, brought about by the all i'm portant blood being blocked up by ac- cretions which close the channels lead ing from the heart. Most magnificent and most wonderful muscle as the human heart is, it may get clogged in such way by the earthly salts in the blood as to be unable to perform its reg ular functions. Then the life fluid can not be kept in proper circulation. Al lowing 60 or 70 pulsations of the heart the usual average-every minute, one person has 100, 900 heart beats in the space of one day. This means, of course, | that the heart and arteries are contracted with such power as to keep 90 or GO pounds of blood in healthy movement. ! Really it is n wonder that one does not wear out long before he usually does. And it forces q new kind of admira- ton from tho thinking man when he sees for tho first time a human being | who has lasted 100 or 115 years, and whose heart is still going on after all this cnoromus expenditure of force. The | eyes, ears and stomach all have n rest, but the heart keeps on through waking hours as well as through sleep. Pauses between the beats are all the vacation it gets, which seems to be really no rest at all. When one does not dream, even the brain seems to sleep, or at least it gives peace and quiet.
 Much has been written and talked about vegctarianism in relation to health and its effect on long life. It is not claimed, however, by its strict advo- cates that any of the great number of people who have lived to be 100 years and over were vegetarians. In fact, most of these centenarians seem to have lived just like common folk who die at
 10 or 30. If they had only taken care of themselves and kept their blood in good condition, there is no telling but 200 years may have been scored as easily as
 100. Natural advantages being so great,
 as shown by what they did do, n vague sadness overcomes the social philosopher
 when he thinks of what they might have accomplished under more favorable con
 ditions for the success of the experiment.
 As to the admitted advantages of a
 partial vegetarian system of living, NJ.
 Francisque Sarcey, tho famous French critic, has been trying it, and in n com munication 10 one of the Parisian jour nals gives his experience. Since April,
 1893, he has touched no meat. In Au- gust of tho same year he reports that he is only "a moderate vegetarian that ) is, he only eschews meat and admits eggs. cheese, butter. milk and fish to his regimen. Contrary to the expectations
 of both himself and friends. he finds ; that he is in much more vigorous health ? and in better working condition under l tho influence of his new menu than be- ' fore. At first he naturally felt hungry m hour or two after eating. but after 6
 fortnight the flesh craving passed away, and now he not only eats at the same l hours as before, but consumes much less t food. The advantages of the system arc ' described by him as most remarkable. l His mind is clearer, and he feels more l disposed for work. He is no longer sleepy after meals, his brain Is fresher, his limbs moro elastic, and, more aston 8 ishinG still, he can stand moro fatigue. l Formerly he felt the need of stimu, s lants, and now he has done away with s such things. He does not smoke, and he - is endeavoring to diminish his coffee t supply. Altogether he is enthusiastic. - At first it is rather like self denial, but t one gets to like it in time. e.-Chicagt
 Tribune.