The times., 1899-12-26
TUESDAY. DECEMBER %. 1sq9
The EIiHir of Lie.

The Elixir of Life.
Juan Ponce de Leon. the Spaaiard VINO
discovered Florida. and his fruitcss que
for the tabled fountain OF youth. are re-
called by The announcement from Parss.
via LoHdon that the elixir Of life has tesu
discovered al the Pasteur Institute. As
the statements concerning Prof. Metchni-
Eof's reported discovery are vnqra fled
and the revelation is couched in more OF
less enthusiastic language. the wo Id will
be inclined TO look for additional infcIma-
ZION concerning this reported scientific tri-
umph wiJh considerable hope.
According 10 the description Of The rev
elixir furnished by an euterprizing core
sPoudeut OF an English re1Ft PAPER. 1t con
sisLs Of series OF lymphs which tend 10
supply the various organs Of the body with
those necessary cells Tor the resisting
decay.
The Fasteur institute discove-er is said
10 be at present experimenting with these
serums 10 find the proper Proportion to be
used by injection for the arrest Of deterio-
ration and the physical regeneration OF the
emacisted portions Of the human body.
Although this news from Paris recalls
the several occasions wren fa,ss hopes
were raised in the hearts OF suffering hu-
m8nity by the announcement that the
precious secret of preventing and fighting
disease had been wrezted from nature
Jaere is disposition TO give a certain
amount Of credit 10 this disclosure until it
has been proved eacacf0uz or worthless
The failure Of Kocil's lymph TO combat con
Sumption which was demonstrated some
years ago makes the public C0ubsIul OF the
virtue oI anything ia the way OF serum
which ulay be offered by enthusiastic scten-
fists for the war against disease but the
knowledge that bscterio.ogists and the
deeper students OF E55ny lis are earnestly
containing tseir experiments and re-
searches. 10 q certain extent neutraIizes
the skepticaI opinion and affords even the
confirmed doubier feeling Of satisfaction
Science has accomplished such wonders
daring the past century that no one feels
authorized to declare that anything short
OF the restoration Of life or the building Of
2 mechanical device with brains VIII not
be accomplished.
Among the many marvels Of an inventive
age. the progress OF medical science has
been. 10 an extent. unappreciatcd. The in
sight into the germ origin Of human all
ments. and the attendant perfection Of
methods to combat the enemies Of lie have
not attracted the attention tha5 tbey seem
ed 10 deserve from the unprofessionaI
multitude.
For The good OF mankind II is TO be
hoped that the news from Paris is bona
fde and that the progressive investigator
a. the Pasteur Institute has actually dis
covered a sterling remedy Tor the re-
generation Of the physical structure There
never was time IN the history Of the
world when such a boon was more need
60 The multiplicity Of remedies for all
1Ae lbs TO which fesh is heir and which
SppaTsutly find such enormous sales that
their proprietors become rich signifies that
she hurlyburIy OF modern ways is wearing
people out faster than nature Intended
Although civilization has b5en cautioned
b. those skilled in the detection Of the
distressing tendency 10 live too rapidly.
the pace seems unabated and men, Ike
motor cars, are determined on rapid tran
sit.
PTema,ureiy old persons are net a rarity
nowadays. The Intelligent observer is
compelled 10 realize day by day the de-
structire results of the tendency to burn
the candle at both ends. What the ulti-
mate penalty VIII be, unless there is a
ealutary reform, can readily be conceived.
An elixir Of life would be prime bless
ing and. though the report that Prof
NetchuikoT has found one may be ex-
aggerated. OF even untrue, there is a
strong belief that something Of this char
acue- VIII yet be made available by tri-
umphant scientists for the physical saliva
xioa OF suffering mankind