The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-02
Is Mans Life Growing Longer?

Encouragement and comfort will be de-
rived by persons advancing in years from
some articles printed in a recent number Of
the Lancet, where DR.. w. AINsLIE HOLLIS
advances arguments for the belief that
human life is tending to grow longer, and
Dr.. JULIUS ALTHAUs suggests means for
resisting the natural decay OF age, while
the Lancet itself, editorially, propounds
equally hopeful views.
On one important statistical fact they all
agree, namely, that according to the rec
ords OF the British General Registry
Office 1.-THE middle arch OF life" has
been advanced from about forty years to
nearly fifty years in half a century. The
meaning Of this is that whereas OF one
million persons born at the same time.
300, 900 were dead by the time the rest had
completed their fortieth year, fifty years
age the point where the number OF those
who perish is equal TO that OF the survivors
is now the forty-ninth year. Half OF us,
that is, are now automatically sure Of
reaching the age OF fifty, while our grand
fathers could count on the same chance Of
attaining their fortieth year only.
This means an enormou improvement
in the health OF the nation and a correspond
ing delay in the manifestations OF senility,
nasmuch as they mainly depend upon va
rious structural defects due to unhealthy
surroundings" says DR.. HOLLIS. The chief
cause of the Improvement he finds in the
improved sanitation OF modern life, which
removes many obstacles TO the normal de-
Velopment OF the human body. He thinks
"A n1nluIlA that Ii,.n4t ,nlnI.-.,
ship exists in mammals between the
duration OF adolescence OF a breed and
its potential longevity, and, from the
known fact that the period OF adolescence
can be shortened artifcially, with the re-
suit that the life OF the animal is short
ened, he argues that 1t nay likewise be
heightened, thereby prolonglng the ami
mails natural life. The ascertained fact
that the usual age of marriage in England
comes much later than IL did twenty-five
years ago seems TO him, therefore, a reason
for hope that the middle arch OF life may
be advanced still further, and that 1.-THE
expansion OF youth may be looked for
where a green old age is common"
The view taken OF old age by DR.. ALT
HAus is more technical. He tells us:
'"' AS"h vi IN ~ pieSfhb huoht MY Years,
but the complete cycle Of physiological life, TO
which va ought to aspire. is u hundred. That 30 few
persons reach this communication Is owing to bad
inheritance. Encouragement of children, neglect Of
the sick and aged. the large variety OF bacterial
poiSons which make constant war upon us, improper
food. unwholesome dwellings and trades, impure
air. oyercrowding, the habituul abuse OF drugs and
alcoholic liquors. sexual excuses. oyere1citemen OF
the nervous system. excessive brain work. worry.
grief, anxiety and trouble and accidents"
II such incidents OF life can be avoided,
the chances Of becoming a centenarian
shOuldb be good. Old age, which sets in usu-
ally about the sixtleth year, is, according
10 Dr.. ALTHAUs, II degeneration of the
p~rotoplasm OF the nerve cells in successive
areas OF the brain and spinal cord. II can
be checked, he asserts, by methods of cleo
trotherapy resulting, il applied in time, in
nutrition OF the nerve cells and reiuvenes-
cenre such that the faculties can be retained
fairly we'll till the eightieth or the ninetieth
year, The Lancet, though treating DR., ALT