New-York tribune., 1904-09-04
CENTENAR[ANISM.
Hoo 1t Has Increased IN Recent
Iimes-Efect of Heredity.

Our readers cannot have failed to notice that Of
latter years there has been Increased fertility in
the production least in the record of cases OF
genuine centelarians, says American Medicine
century ago. the authenticity OF the record
and even the physical possibility of the existence
of a human eentenarian questioned by the
skepticai. There can be very little doubt that a
large proportion OF the centenarian specimens were
In former eges invented by the manufacturers of
the folk lore and fairy tales-in those good old
days when the registration of births and bap-
tismal records not carefully carried out.
and securely preserved. as they have been OF
recent years. But although the annual supply OF
cases may to have diminished the record
OF a certain Qimited) number has within recent
years been placed in position which is. historic
ally and scientifically, impregnable. About three
years ago there appeared in the pages of an
English medical contemporary, n short notice Of
the death of Mrs. Hanbury OF Richmond. Surrey,
at the venerable age of hundred and eight
years and four months. The publication of that
article had the desirable effect Of elciting from
T. E Young-one Of the highest authorities
on this subject-a communication which appeared
IN the following issue. in which he informed his
readers that since the publication of his well
known book the subject Gn 1899. he had OBJ
tanned incontrovertbe evidence of the existence Of
twenty-five other And. indeed. all the cvi-
dence now before the scientific world goes to show
that the of average human life is lengthening;
that may hug ourselves with the consoling
consideration in this century of hurry and worry
universally prevailing and everywhere increasing.
The additional physical comforts, the sanitary i'm
provements, and the almost universal diffusion Of
of the fundamental maxims of hygiene have
hitherto more than compensated for the excess of
wear and tear produced by the increased velocity
which is so necessary in the race for material
success, and for the complicated consequences of
the increased competition which the growing popu-
iation and gradual elevation of the standard of
skilled labor mental well physical. have
created in every profession and occupation CT
life. Accordingly, it would appear that the ground
is gradually sliding from beneath the feet of the
ignoble army of pessmists.
The hopes inspired by the rapid progress Of the
principles and practice Of hygiene and OF the
knowledge Of the precise causation and intimate
have enthusiastic scientists especially the
elect members OF that order who have Yet
arrived at the prosaic age Of forty, TO express
cast that. before the end of the twentieth century
me genesis OF every one OF the disease producing
control. If not then actually wiped off the face
OF the earth. their entrance into. and their subse-
epent development and reproduction in, the tissues
Sided against The gigantic Strides Which have
been continuously made during the whole Of the
vancement do most assurediy give some reason
able grounds for such an outlook And We are, in
the office OF the physician will be longer re-
only require 10 maintain the efficiency of his
scouts and outposts, so as TO insure timely
Enemies any baPpen to Be a ef hnd a Rs
means for the lengthening of the span OF human
life and the further development and expansion
Almost coincident with the death of Mrs Han
toricaiy more ceebgateda6T ana ms ms
Dowager Lady Carew. native of the County
the year Of the French Of the @ gossiPng m 1Tish
been pretty constant in their supply of centsnaria3
records Indeed, it is worthy OF notice that the
fered by it's much abused climate. has always
taken tai NJ leading position in furnishing materials
older records are. Of course. tinted with
Of the twentieth Century viii receive With skeptca
discount the hearsay evidence Of Sir Walter
aesg ar the age attained d. by the famous
ton which appeared in the later doggerel:
Rq ns died ssd pE to The s age o 9 eS. and ssR
II. and stu St J., more gravsly examine the pure
treats with respect the testimony that she lived
BP Wce sn hoe casting Gd 6ef fhe od S9s eeb fd
and others Commipg in their Place" But there
ground for doubling that she really did survve
In The irish Tme In todag eTfgF ITs aPPgare9 a
Miss Mary Ann DeFoe. her great-great-grand-
od f" of O2En M e think cah E
one better Ny great-great grandfather was born
troops in England ard fought at the battle of
the nineties Of the same century I have book
IN which is his signature over the date III. Ny
and myself in the sixties. being stil the right
when very young lad, remeInbered his grand. and,
father, then very old man. there are plenty
OF people still alive here who saw a man that saw
a man who fought at the battle OF the Boyne. I
have IN my possession some of James IT'S table
linen taken after the battle"
The influence Of the heredity IN the genesis of
long life is well known to all observant persons
a case IN point is mentioned by THE Lancet OF
june 4. 1901. man had just died in the Black
burn workhouse at the undoubted age OF one
hundred and five. His mother also lived TO one
hundred and FIVE. and his sister was killed. at
one hundred and two. This had been "a
snuff taker and habitual smoker and was not
remarkable fact that, Notwithstanding all the out
cries which have been raised against certain habits
by philanthropists. destructive OF health and
life, rot one Of them IS entirely corroboratAd by
oil habits and occupations-even some Of the most
unsaudtary and most dangerous-will be found
enrolled the list. The North American
inoian. who lived life of continuous exposure.
nodern chemist, who spent all his more active
hours IN a close laboratory, necessarily inhallnp
the foul gases OF his myriad experiments have
1oth llveo TO the age OF hundred and three
The list includes philosophers and criminals. sol
qlerS and sneaks. teetotalers and drunkardS
trotters and deniZens of a single room (or ceIO
MOBILES and servants, rnillionaires and paupers The
annals or longevity inform that Z" Lady Law
son. who died at the of hundred and
sixteen, practised ablutions of any kind or
those people who washed themselves were ALWAYS
taxing cold or laying the foundation OF some
oreadfut Disorder And, moreover. that her
spartment was only occasionally swept out but
with dirt that they hardly admitted a raw of
light" In presence Of such facts dogma fists San
itafy should surely be somewhat more modest,
THE "BRIG o. AYR"