New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20
HOW TO LIVE A CENTURY
Sir Henry Thompson Thinks Al
Ought to Do So.


but from the experience of three generations Of
patients and from HIS life. Although eighty
four years old himself he says that bv following
certain rules Of living he still enjoys the world as
when he young; that he Is still free from the
stiffness which generally comes with years and
that his Joints "as supple and mobile they
were in youth
The views of this man are received with a great
deal OF respect in England, for he is other than
Sir Henry Thompson. the eldest member Of the
Royal College Of Surgeons Sir Henry is also known
on the Continent almost widely at home. and
In Belgium especially noted, being the surgeon
extraordinary the King the Belgians and
8 Commander of the Order of Leopold. His honors.
medals and prizes may be numbered by the score.
Sir Henry's advice to all those who wish TO be
rentenarians is summed up in the word diet, and
IN book called diet in Relation Age and
Activity published by F. Warne Co. OF this
city, he shows how only mans age, but his
temper, his pleasures. his fortunes and his
spiritual nature, made or marred by the food
he
Many Of Sir Henry's doctrines. however. deal
hard blow TO the majority Of men and TO the old
fashioned belief that las gets older he should
live heartily" The popular theory. against
which he takes up eudges, Is thus defined in his
own language 1t is the belief that when age
rives we may indulge in that extra support which
the feebleness of advancing years is supposed to
deserve The little luxuries hitherto forbidden,
suggested by the lips OF loving women and ten
dered in the confidence of affectionate hands,
turned TO profit in the evening OF declining
years The extra glass or cordial and the superla-
lively strong extract of food now TO become
delicate and appropriate aids TO the enfeebled
frame
Such a doctrine the writer says. is all wrong.
Such a mode of living s,.ortens, he says, rather
than lengthens life. It Is in the years of growth
and activity that rich food and stimulating beveT-
eyes may be disposed Of with the least injury
The constitution, for then the eliminating power of
TIE body Is . its height. On the contrary when
the system becomes old and less vigorous il cannot
grapple with such foods and drinks. Like a weak
garrison. il is overcome by a too powerful attack
ing force. In ola age. he says the flow Of blood
cannot be driven into any sembIance of the youth
full torrent by the temporary force of stimulantz.
IS it with impunity TO be overcharged by the
constant addition Of rich elements which can no
longer be utilized"
Accordingly, mans vitality decrea ses. says Sir
Henry. the quantity and richness of his food should
decrease. He contrasts. for sake of argument, the
body OF a youth with that o. ar old man. "A young
fellow" he says. 'in the fUlness OF health and
habtuated daily active life in the open air, may
under the stimulus OF appetite and OF enjoyment in
gratifying Il. often exceed both in quantity and
variety of food what IS necessary supply all the
demands Of his system without paying a very
sxorbtant price for the indulgence II the stomach
ls sensitive not very powerful 1t sometimes re
Iects an extrsvagant ration of food either a
Or soon after the surfet has been committed but
II the digestive force IS considerable, the meals,
Eabtually SUPERB bunGant, are gradually ABSORBED,
end the surplus fund Of nutrient material is stored
up IN some form. When a certain amount has been
thus disposed of. undesirable balance remains
against the feeder. and in young people is mostly
tectiaed by bilious attack, through the agency
Of which q few hours vomiting and misery square
the account"
In spite of the bilious attacks" OF youth. many
co not heed their warning. After the FIRST half
o. so Of life has passed away" as the writer ex-
presses H. Instead Of such periodical attacks OF
sickness the unemployed material may be relegated
II the form be stored the external sur
face Of the body, be packed among the internal
organs. and thus lie or she may become coppulent
Erd heavy
i is a Iamentable fact that such corpulence. in
stead Of awakening alarm IN the minds OF most
people generally evokes compliments. AS soon as
one begins to fat up people wont 70 say You
ere looking so we'll" Yet in truth the poor victim
IS committing a sort of gradual suicide
As middle life passes and Old age comes one is
tempted more than 70 crowd the stomach in
spite Of its increasing weakness. \ wife is often
most to blame for really fastening her husbands
end while earnestly believing she is strengthening
and sustaining him she observes that he is now
more fatgucd than formerly after the labors of the
day IS less vigorous for business for exercise, for
sport. Jess energetic every way IN design and
oution She naturally desires TO him stronger.
and 10 sustain the enfeebled power. which age is
necessarily undermining. She demonstrates I
every meal at what she painfully feels IS the in
sufficient portion of food he consumes. lie pleads
II excuse almost with the consciousness OF Rullt,
that he has really all that appetite permits,
but he IS besought with plaintive voice and affec-
t+onate entreaty TO try and take little more"
And 10 etay the current Of gentle complaint he
sssents. and with some violence to his nature,
forces his palate 70 comply, thus adding slight
burden TO the already satiated stomach"
In addition such coaxing TO eat more. the ol':
man IS made the victim o. specially prepared
foods. highly concentrated extracts and "pepsin-
ized" or 'predigested" foods, TO Introduce
the nourishment by hook crook into the system"
Such foods. Sir Henry says should be taken by old
people only according to the advice of a phys-
clan. He also inveighs against habit of drink
ing nutritious beverages. such cocoa. meals,
practice which he says. only overburdens the
stomach and prevents it from digesting the solid
materials. Even water should be drung sparingly
meals because much OF it weaken- the action
the salivary glands and thus permits the food to
enter the stomach imperfecty prepared. One OF
the worst blunders. he says. is for an old person
70 drink milk at meal time. When such bever-
age as tea or coffee is drunk should swa-
lowed the same time that food is in the mouth
The habit OF washing down food is an injurious
one. and also hard 10 break.
Not in fifty lives to good old age
WheD thus surfeited with food says Sir Henry.
The typical Of eighty ninety years stil
retaining respectable amount of energy Of body
and mind. is lean and spare. and lives slender
ratons." And IN order give idea of what
he means by slender ratons,'' the writer outlines
e typical system o. eating, which, he says, can
be varied according 10 the circumstances and per
sonal idiosyncrasies Of the individual. I advise
for old men four meals in the day" he continues
Breakfast. say. about $50 after hot weak tea
and milk before rising CHS should be slipped in
bed about hour before the first meal the day.
luncheon about or 1:l5, dinner At 1850. a
little refreshment about L. II required
Following this course the animal food supplied