Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-11-25

sanitation and public health. That a
normal longevity for human beings
should ultimately be established at not
less than $50 years by reason of future
improvements in social conditions
among the masses, is Professor Fishers
view, which agrees with the results of
Metchinkofi's Investigations. And is
100 years were to be normal or
average age. Of course there would be
many cases of individuals who would
live from $50 to 200 years. The
scientific basis of Professor Fishers
conclusion is the incontestable increase
IN the average age of people in civiliz-
ed countries during the past four GEN.
turies. The average span of life be-
gan to increase about $50 years ago.
Each century thereafter added some
thing to the span-the seventeenth
century four years, the eighteenth GEN.
tury four years and the nineteenth
century nine years. In favored local
ltles the average longevity has increas-
ed much faster, as in Massachusetts
and Prussia. 1t is maintained that If
the present rate Of progress is not
checked, the average person in this
state century hence will live IA
years longer than at present. Prussia,
which shows the greatest advance in
hyglenic and medical science, is in
creaslng its average longevity at the
rate OF u years century. If it be
said that such rates of advance in
longevity cannot long be maintained,
the answer is that the world is only at
the beginning of its conquests over
disease and unsanitary methods of liv-
ing among the mass of humanity.
One OF the greatest achievements of
science promises to be the marked in
crease in the duration of human life.'
Is there any fact in the universe of
more supreme Importance to the in
dividual than his own life? We trow
not. If in the future the average of
is to rise to hundred and
fifty years, with real old men going
about until they are two hundred,
that is surely a fact that is entitled to
be classed under the head of .'impor-
tant, if true" OF course, some Of the
edge of our grateful surprise is dulled
by the consideration that Professor
Fisher has fixed no definite date when
we may expect to come into the en-
Ioyment of this increased longevity,
and a casual glance at the percentages
OF gain in past centuries awakens the
suspicion tnat none Of the present liy-
ing generations may reasonably hope
to come into the heritage Professor :.
Fisher sees stretching before the race.
The Yale professor, it is to be OBJ
served, deals with averages. There
can be no doubt at all that the aver
age of human life is growing longer.
All the life insurance statistics prove
that. But the professor does not give
US any figures to show that the span
of individual life is increasing, and we
tail to note any evidence of it round
about us. More people reach the
three score years and ten, that in the
Psalmist day was considered the
natural limit of strong mans life,
than ever before, but we do not note
that any more pass the century mark
than did Do years ago. If the professor
has any figures to prove to us that the
longest limit Of individual life in these
days exceeds that Of century ago, he
has not produced them. We wont
feel safe in figuring on an average life
Of 100 years until some evidence along
this line Of individual experience is
produced. And, after all, perhaps
century is long enough for any man
to prolitably spend in this world.