The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-29
SECRET OF LONG LIFE
CAN A HEALTHY PERSON PROloNG
HIS LIFE TO 200 vEARss

HIS LIFE TO 200 yEARsf
Tha Theory of s.Retarding vital C0asump-
tion"-Frankiin and the Flies-work the
Heart Does-Recent Experisnens n the
Partial Vegetarian system.
Among the various fantastic theories
for prolonging life n of the most popu-
lar at the end of the eighteenth century
was what was called ''~retardinR vital
consumption M~aupertuis fancied that
o complete suspension Of vital activity,
. sort of Rip Van Wrinkle sleep, might
be produced 20 as to check self consump
ton. Bodies in this state could be laid
away and then resuscitated after d lapse
OF two or three centuries. BENJAMIN
Franklin even, while living i'm 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 q 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 q spree In Virginia, had fallen
into the native wine and had been in
this state shipped TO France, where they
were exposed to the heat Of the French
sun. Three hoars passed, and the winged
Virginians came to life after an appar-
emit death of many weeks. At first O
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
France 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 few
away TO associate with Paris flies.
Franklin wrote OF the incident:
"Since by such complete suspension
OF all internal as well as external con-
sumption it is possible to produce q
pause of life and at the same time to
preserve the vital principle, might not |
such o process be employed In regard to |
man? ] can imagine no greater pleasure
than to cause myself to be immersed,
along with o few good friends, I'm wine
and to be again called back to life at the
end OF SO or years by the genial
solar rays of my native country, only
that ] may see 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" Tt ID . phrase that
has o fine. vague. mysterious sound, but
it really means little or nothing. Or, in
other words. it is low conceded that
death comes FROM disintegration, very
gradual often, 1t is true, in all the bod
lily organs, brought about by the al i'm
portant blood being blocked up BY &C.
cretions which close the channels lead
ing from the heart Most magnificent
and most wonderful muscle III the
human heart ID, it may get cloRged i'm
such . way by the earthly salts in the
blood as TO be unable to perform iss req
ular functions. Then the life fluid can
not be kept In proper circulation. Al
so or 10 pulsations Of che 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 a. TO keep 90 or 60
pounds OF blood in healthy movement.
Really IL ID . wonder that one does not
ont long before he usually does.
And it forces o new kind Of admira-
don from the thinking man when he
sees Tor the first time o human being
who has lasted 100 or 10 years, and
whose heart 10 still going on after All
this enoromus expenditure Of force. The
eyes, ears and stomach all have q rest,
bat the heart keeps on through waking
hours 10 well as through sleep. Pauses
between the beats are all the vacation it
yets, which seems to be really no rest at
III. When one does not dream, even the
1rain seems to sleep. or at least 1t gives
peace and quiet.
Much has been written and talked
about yegetarianism in relation to health
md Its effect ON long life. It Is not
'laimed, however, by its strict .advo-
'ates that any of the great number Of
who have lived to be 100 years
md over were vegetarians. In fact,
most OF these centenarians seem to have
lived Just like common folk who die &c
10 or so. II they had only taken care Of
themselves and kept their blood in good
condition, there il no telling but 200
may have been scored NJ easily 30
90. Natural advantages being 80 great,
shown by what they did do . vague
adness overcomes the social philosopher
when be thinks Of what they might hare
accomplished under more favorable con
litions for the success Of the experiment.
As to the admitted advantages OF q
,artial vegetarian system Of living, M.
Francisque Sarcey. the famous French
has been trying il. and In d CONE !
10 one of the Partisan Jour
RAILS gives his experience. Since April,
1913, he has touched no meat. In An
,ust OF the same year he reports that he
> only - moderate vegetarim"-that
> he only eschews meat and admits
'ggs. cheese. butter. milk and ish to his
egimen. Contrary to the expectations
4 beth himself and friends, he finds
hat he ID In much more vigorous health
In hekkar wvnrkfnw rnndftson xsmAo~ !