The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-29
Facts on Longevity.

Whether human being or any other
animal lives eight times the number OF
years 1t takes to grow or only five times
as long is point not yet determined.
Some writers argue that a man grows till
he is 20. Therefore, as Hufeland urged,
he has the possibility of extending his life
to 200 years If he lived properly, as nature
dictates. Modern theories incline to the
other rule that on the average one grows
to the age of 20, and five times the period
of growth is the limit of human endur-
ance, no matter how carefully one lives.
This theory will apply to horses dogs,
cats, and, in fact, to almost all kinds of
brutcs one has opportunities of studying.
When Thomas PARIS body was opened
at his death, in his one hundred and fifty
second year, the state of the organs on
which longevity most depends was found
SO perfect that it is stated he might have
lived much longer If he had remained in
his country home instead of being brought
up to London to be shown to the king
and thus subjected to a complete change
of diet and all the excitement of the new
life.
Climate is supposed by many to have
greet influence upon human life Scotland
and England as we'll as Ireland have pro
duced some remarkable specimens of long
livers In fact, islands seem to be favored
in respect to longevity. France, Spain
and Italy have not furnished many spcci-
mems of centcnarians, while Greece is still
famous as it was formerly. Too great a
degree of cold is prejudicial to length of
life as in Iceland and parts of northern
Siberia it is not usual to meet people of
more than so or 70 years of age, though
in moderately cold countries life is long
D,t,, =,
died in England 7SS persons of 100 years
and upward OF these 532 were women
and 256 men OF this list only ~ were
from London, while 1877 were from Wales,
showing, as all statistics seem to prove,
that city life is unfavorable to length Of
years, while the country and small towns
produce those who attain to extreme old
age. Germany and Holland contain many
old people, but produce few instances of
extreme long life AS in Great Britain.
If person desires to live to be 100 or
| $50 years of age, southern California, near
Los Angeles or San Diego or somewhere
| In that vicinity, has advantages of climate
| that may be most favorable to q long,
calm, happy life. A temperature that
never changes suddenly to great extremes
Is surely best for the body, and condi
ton of the elements that permits one to
live great deal in the open air, to sit by
| open windows even when not out of doors
to lounge on open verandas and to dis
pense with close, heated rooms is the ideal
climate for the determined philosophical
centenarian. Too great moisture as well
as too much dryness is unfavorable to
long life, while a moderate degree of mois-
ture is conducive to longevity. Islands
like Great Britain and Ireland prove this
| 10, ha b,,t . lict Of bnx
produce of century and upward. 1t has
been charged by the English that Irish
women often exaggerate their ages but
if they have documentary evidence one
must believe them. Among Americans,
however, most of the very old people have
been born in Virginia, and though they
did not always remain there they laid the
foundation of Il good, lasting constitution
in the Old Dominion.
But, no matter where IA man was born
the closer he follows nature, the more 1t
lives in the clean, open air and sleeps il
it also, the less medicine he takes, and tn,
fewer doctors bills he pays. Modern lif,
is too full of luxury, dissipation, corrup
ton and vice to produce many men of ever
100 years of age. The higher the pressur,
the shorter the duration of existence
Moderation in erything-mode of liv
ing, temper, food, exercise and pleasure
Is the true method of preserving goot
health and prolonging life If you thinl
1t is too much trouble, then go ON indulg
ing in your excuses, mental and physical
taking your drugs and lying in bed will
the knocker or bell tied up and mufile,
and thanking the doctor If there is no
black Grape on the door
A large number of centenarians who's
hau
upon appear to have lost, some of them al
and some of them nearly all, their teeth
Sir Henry Thompson thinks that the us
Of false teeth is injurious to the old folks
as they are led astray and apt to eat NOR
than can be digested properly. The sys
tenn in such subjects instead of requiring
more nourishment to keep it up than II
the middle aged and young really require
less. Excess would therefore be Injurious
as it gives the organs too much to do, jus
as SO many persons take up some fad, a
} drinking hot water or cold water to ex
cess.
J Natures rule is In all cases best Onl
drink when you are thirsty and onl
enough to satisfy the thirst. Expellin
surplus water from the system merel
adds to the work of the organs withou
affording any real compensating advan
o tages. Dumb animals even know bette
than to do such things. But, then, the
do not have any doctor but old Mothe
Nature who prescribes by instinct A
to the false teeth, however, it is stated b.
} Sir Richard Owen that they help mastica
ton, as of course they do, and therefor
assist digestion and assimilation. Lor
, Brougham, who died at 80, and LORI
l Lyndhurst, who lived to the age Of 81
both agree with Sir Richard against ST
l Henry. Three to one, and the three no
! theorizing but speaking from experience
1 Therefore in the great question, false teet
3 or false theory, the point must be decides
in favor of the former.-Chicago Tribune.