The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25


tons who never have any battles are white
nvered. Even II vegetable diet might
prolong life it's adoption would be unad-
visible should it have baneful effects upon
character.
ITO promote longevity, purity Of food
must be assured and food adulteration of
eli kinds prevented. Some OF these adul-
terations are not particularly injurious,
others interfere with the vital organs. Food
preserved by antiseptics interfering with
digestion is a case IN point Antiseptics
preventing decomposition in food before 1t
Is eaten interfere with the digestive fer
ments. For this reason all antiseptics are
injurious in foods
ssWill not medical progress greatly help
10 Iengthen cur average life to 100 years."
s'The precautions we are taking TO di-
minish fatalities in peace and war have
much to do in increasing the average length
OF human life. Deaths from wounds and in
5uries are far less numerous than twenty
1--WE years ago.. Advances in antiseptie
surgery have not only greatly improved
chances Of patients subjected to surgical
operations. but also of those suffering from
wounds in battle injuries in travel. San
ftary science is another powerful force act
ing to secure prolongation OF life. Pure
air. pure water and bodily exercise are in
valuable aids
Introduction OF athletics in our univer-
stiles and colleges will do much to proIong
life In individual cases entertaining may
prove injurius, but can be prevented by
Judicious supervision of the young pre-
pairing for sports. Supreme efforts in ath-
letic contests are not injurious except in
case Of accidents, providing previous train
ing has been judicious. Only the unframed
muscle suffers injury from a supreme ef-
fort.
Young girls In our higher institutions of
learning are taught to see bad effects of
tight lacing and sedentary life, which often
they could not possibly have learned at
home. The old idea that the scholar
should be pale and anemic is rapidly giving
way to the belief that a well-cultured in
tellect is best housed in a robust body
and that the intelligent eye is best set
off by rosy cheeks. Judicious physical
culture, beginning in the public schools
when it cannot begin at home, and running
systematically through high schools. col
leges and universities, will give the world
a race of mental athletes VINO will live
long and live well.
L.
1--WE will yet see professors of amuse-
ment' in our colleges and universities
There is science of amusement as well
as of labor. Long before physiology and
hygiene were known as distinct sciences
& was recognized that continual labor
would rapidly wear away vitality. The
recreations of of quite much
Importance as their vocations. 1t is quite
self as to have the leisure and opportunity
TO do so. The older nations are ahead of
US in this respect. Here we have been so
busy creating a nation that have had
no time to study the best methods of pre-
serving II and endowing it with the max
imum degre of happiness. The mental
rect of the individual toward life is of
great significance. y spirit of cheerful
ness, tolerance and patience will do much
toward lessening the ills to which
heirs
did not the men OF ancient times i've
longer than do now?"
Seventy years, the biblical limit of hui
man life. u fan above the present average.
In the absence of statistics we are unable
10 determine the longevity of the earlier
races. but it is doubtful if the average
length of life was greater than at present
In any stage of the worlds history"
.swill no. the increase of our years result
in too many people?"
mo; we need have no fear of over
crowding should our crop of old men and
women be increased. Young people would
have to live a year or two longer. for
active employment, but benefits from virile
old age would more than compensate for
81 Sole So hOId
ready to furnish food for all corners, as
well for all stayers. The abundance of
food now is greater than ever before. When
the population OF the world is doubled or
many times greater than at present there
will still be an abundant supply of food"
AS To COLORED PEOPLE.
as 1t true that our colored people live
longer than our whites?'
1.-THE number of centenarians in the
United States, as determined by the census
OF 1890, was 39S1. of which 2,9e7 were coll
ored and only 1.054 white. Yet the number
OF our white inhabitants the same year
was 54,9Ss 500, and the number of colored
but 7.6Ss,360. But 1t Is difficult to ascer-
tain the correct ages OF many coIored peo-
pie, and there is a disposition to exaggerate
which cannot be controlled. 1 am not ready
race is so far superior to that of the white
race as indicated.
'sThe length of life, aside from accidents
and plaques, is measured by the weakest of
the vital organs" volunteered the doctor,
changing the subject 1.-The best possible
lung Is Of no use when the stomach is worn
out, and whether life is worth living or not
depends too often upon the liver. Often it
IS not advisable to know where the weak
point is, because the mind is apt TO con-
centrate there. But a wise guarding of
weak spot on the line is characteristic of a
d general. The ideal balance among
vital organs is to have them all equally
strong The general functions OF life then
go on without interruption for rest or re-
pairs. The advance of years is not noticed
because all OF the faculties are preserved in
equal vigor. Where only vital organ
begins to fail the forces exerted to break
down and destroy the others are enormous.
But where al march on together the COM
pletion OF the vital cycle is as beautiful as
its evolution Without sickness or pain, the
end of fffa comes 10 rau,ox-a IN, y,arfactI,,