Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12
HOW TO PROLOHG LIFE
Some Simple Rules for the
Preservation of Health.
REG ULAR EXERC Use
THERE SHOULD BE MODERATION
IN EATING AND DRINKING.
Value of Fresh Air - Mental and
Physical Labor Should Not
Be Feared.

Written for The Evening Star.
How to live a hundred years and more IS
a subject that has claimed the attention
for years OF leading scientists and hygien-
lists the. world over, resulting, however in
no definite plan to be followed; but now the
question has been intelligently answered
by Sir Hermann Weber, ID D., prominent
member of the Royal College of London,
England. and consulting physician of Ger
man. National and Mount Vernon hospitals
for consumption, who gives to the world
| fixed rules to be followed, which he is con-
fident will be the means for the prolongation
of life.
The real secret of how to promote long
life, to enjoy vigorous and happy old age
is here revealed by Sir Hermann. who has
made a life study of the interesting subject
The question of the possible duration of
human life, when put to great statesmen,
scientists and others no have reached
almost to the century mark of life has been
answered in various ways. 1t was supposed
that old and intelligent men would naturally
have formulated some theory to account
for the length Oh their lives.
Won Moltke, at lie age of ninety, was
still possessed of fine intellectual power
and remark; bic vitality. When asked how
he managed to live so long and in such eX-
celent health. he replied:
BY great moderation in all things and
by regular out-of-door exercise"
Cr:spi, the famous Italian statesman said:
Regularity and abstinence are the secrets
OF long life
Neal Dow, the American apostle of tenn
perance reform, replied when asked the
question: Refrain from fretting.
C0rnaro replied Extreme temperance in
eating and drinking
DIR. G. n. Pope the aged Tamil scholar,
said: BE sure to have some great life work
to do which holds you upon the earth for
the accomplishment of purpose and you
will live
These words from the lips of eminent men
who lived to wonderful old age are of in
tense interest, but they are not the cold and
judicial advice of the scientist, who, how
ever, does not agree with them altogether.
To Avoid Disease.
Recently 1 worked out a plan, the rules
of which, if followed carefully, will result
in the increased longevity of ones life. My
first word of advice to those who would live
long is to avoid disease, especially such dis
eases as one is disposed to contract through
inherited weakness. This is to he done by
knowing ones own predisposition to disease
and exercising the necessary care in occu-
patton. general habits and diet, that will
indefinitely postpone the attack TO which
one is prediSpoSed from birth.
L advise such care in diet and general hab-
it's of life as will defer as long possible
the hardening of the coats of the blood YES
sells that generally comes on before it's nat
ural time, and other deteriorationS of bodily
vigor that are the concomitants equiva-
Tents of the physical conditions of old age
In old age the tissues dry up and the joints
stfffen. Keep your tissues moist and your
joints well oiled.
The first thing needed to keep the tissues
healthy and strong and the various organs
in good working order is a certain quantity
of exercise taken every day. Regularly
taken exercise STRENGTHENS the heart
by causing that great organ to pump the
fluids of the body to the remotest corners
and thereby improving nutrition and caus-
ing all the other organs to do their natural
work, and to take delight, so to speak in
doing their natural work.
Fresh Air in Plenty.
This nutrition abundantly supplies the
the combustion, which, when sufficiently
strong, gives the body the ability to resist
chills, which are the natural enemies of
life. A prerequisite to the successful effect
of exercise is oxygen Hence, fresh air in
plenty is the second useful thing.
Among other circumstances influencing
the duration of life, heredity is the greatest
influence. Those whose ancestors have lived
to great ages have a good chance of longev-
ity, while those whose parents and blood
relations have died early have mostly in
herited a tendency to short lives; yet it is
possible by judicous arrangement of the
manner of living to increase the dura ton
of their lives, especially by counteracting
the tendencies of which their short-lived
ancestors have died
There should be moderation of eating and
drinking, especially in regard to meat
foods. The rule of moderation applies to
the whole life. but the necessity for it is
increased in old age, when the organs and
tissues able to take UP only a much
smaller amount of nourishng material
than in youth. Few people have an idea
of the small amount of food required In