The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-06
WHAT WILL BE Y0U2 FATE9
some Signs of Longevity Noted b.
4 Dhvsyc7ura

some S1gns OF Longevity Noted by
Physicians.
Every one is interested in the question
of long life as applied to himself, and
all facts bearing on it are noted with
becoming feelings of self-congratulation
or otherwise, says the Medical Rec
ord" 1t is the staying power that is in
demand, backed by an inherited and re-
served vitality of resistance against the
usual evils to which all flesh and other
perishable things are subject.
The law of heredity, which our life
insurance companies understand so well,
is. at the bottom of all calculations as to
whether a particular man or woman is
wound up for 20 years or will run down
at 20 or 40 years.
Aside from his testimony, there are
certain physical qualities which have
great weight in determining the result of
the struggle against a conspiring en-
vironment. An oak has one configura-
ton, and a cedar, pine or MULLEN stalk
such distinctions that aids physicians in
their ~prognosis, and turns the balance
against apparently desperate chances.
At recent meeting of the Academy
of Science, Mr.. F. w. Warner, in speak
ing upon the subject of biometry, offered
some very interesting data, which are in
the main true.
$'Every person" said he, carries about
WILL Hill Lie PHYSICAL 1nulCdIlOQS OF MS
longevity. A long-lived person may be
distinguished from a short-lived person
at sight. In many instances a physician
may look at the hand of a patient and
tell whether he will live or die.
I'm the vegetable as well as in the ami
NAL kingdom, each life takes It's charac-
teristics from the life from which it
sprung. Among the inherited character
istics we find the capacity for continuing
its life for a given length of time. This
capacity for living we. call the inherent or
potential longevity.
Under favorable conditions and en-
vtl'cnment the Individual should live out
the potential longevity. With unfavor-
able conditions this longevity may be
greatly decreased, but with a favorable
environment the longevity Of the person,
the family, or the race may be increased
Herein are presented the two leading
considerations, always present and always
interdependent-the inherited potentiality
and the r-eactionary influences of environ
ment.
The primary conditions of longevity
he continues, ARE that the heart, lungs
and digestive organs, as well as the brain,
should be large. II these organs are large.
the trunk will be long and the limbs com
paratively short. The person VII appear
tall in sitting and short in standing. The
hand will have a long and somewhat
heavy palm and short fingers. The brain
will be deeply seated, as shown by the ori-
fee of the ear being low. The blue hazel
or brown hazel eye, as showing an inter
mission OF temperament, is q favorable in
dication. The rostrils being large, open
and free indicates large lungs. A pinched
and half-closed nostril indicates small or
weak lungs"
These are general points of distinction
from those Of short lived tendencies, but.
OF course, subject to the usual individual
exceptions. Still, it Is well acknowledged
that the characteristics noted are express
sioas OF inherent potentiality, which have
been proven on the basis OF abundant
statistical evidence.