Sentence:  To such men as Mr. Hellyer, who every night <WSD>take</WSD> much strong drink, and on no occasion whatever take any exercise, sixty is the grand climacteric. He was, a year ago, just fifty-nine. Alas! he has not even reached his grand climacteric. Already he is gone. He was cut off by pneumonia, or apoplexy, last Christmas. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To partake of (food or drink); to consume.