attaining old age, is clearly hereditary. Thus, it is related of Thomas Field, a labourer of Bexford, Herts, who died aged 102, that his father was aged 104 years, his brother was 95, his uncle 93, and that scarcely any of his family died under 90. P. Marion, a Dutch fisherman, died at the age of 109; his father lived to 107, and his grandfather to 116. The celebrated Thomas Parr lived to 152 years; his son to 113; his grandson to 109; and his great grandson to 124. Two other grandsons, by his daughters, lived 127 years each; and the tables will show many other instances, proving that longevity is in some families hereditary. If the importance of breeding animals from a healthy stock be granted, it is surprising to observe how daily in the world all regard to this first requirement for insuring health, happiness, and longevity is neglected. How dreadful it is to observe that in the selection of wives and husbands, this, which should be the first, is Ruysch observes, that he never saw a person of 80 years old whose ancestors had not also been long lived. See also the Tables of Longevity :-TABLE I.-Nos. 21, 104, 194, 284, 617, 623, 853, 869, 1107, 1231, 1343, 1352, 1357, 1429, 1498. TABLE II.-Nos. 46, 245, 260, 300, 321. III.-Nos. 8, 18, 24, 27, 48, 57, 73. but too often the last consideration;-that wealth, station, beauty, accomplishments, are each in turn sought for and appreciated, without inquiring whether the seeds of gout, consumption, madness, &c., be also a part of the dowry of the bride, or of the possessions of the bridegroom. Surely one would suppose, that whilst there is so much and so laudable an anxiety to transmit to offspring honorable titles and distinctions, and accumulated possessions, it would be also a prominent desire to endow them with such a physical and mental development, as would enable them to appreciate duly their worldly blessings, and to enjoy them for a length of time; but alas! this is not so. As truly as "that charity covereth a multitude of sins," so surely do personal beauty, great talents and accomplishments, a coronet, or a large estate, not only cover too many personal and mental defects existing, but completely prevent all anticipations of the evils which may come after. Few that have attained longevity have passed a life of celibacy; indeed, many of those whose lives are quoted, have been married often; and it is curious that in many instances the man and wife have died within a very short time of each other: thus showing, that whilst in all probability the mode of life adopted was conducive to health, the pleasures of domesticity and companionship were not less so.1 1 Hufeland lays great stress on the wise employment of the generative powers. "I am acquainted with no instance," he says, of eunuchs having attained to a remarkably great age. They always continue to be only half men. All those who attain to the highest degree of longevity were abundant in the generative power, and it remained faithful to them to the last period of their existence. They married often in their 100th year, or even later." (Loc. cit., vol. i, chap. 8.) See also Tables:-TABLE I.-Nos. 31, 73, 235, 457, 478, 503, 544, 575, 608, 677, 717, 1003, 1129, 1175, 1347, 1467, 1489, 1500. TABLE II.-Nos. 4, 18, 22, 34, 75, 140, 226, 243, 315. CHAPTER III. ON THE MODE OF ATTAINING OLD AGE. HAVING thus endeavoured to show the extent to which human life may be capable of enduring, and having examined into the natural causes of longevity, it remains now to inquire how far the conduct of the individual may tend to procure it. Presuming, then, the essentials of a sound constitution derived from healthful parents to exist, and presuming that the individual shall have attained the age of maturity free from disease, or uninjured by any attacks of disease which may have occurred, how shall he so conduct himself as to lengthen out that condition of life we call Maturity? to change it gradually into age, and be gathered at length by the hands of death, as a fruit still perfectly ripe, not slowly shrinking, shrivelling, and decaying, until it drop. A healthy individual at the age of maturity may best discover how to prolong that condition by considering how it has been attained, and by comparing the condition to which he has arrived with the starting period of his existence. "Gray hairs thy days, and let thy past read lectures to thy last." He has attained a vigorous maturity by the regular exercise of all his mental and corporeal powers, by the due performance of all the functions of the frame, so as to stimulate, sustain, and invigorate each other: by avoiding the undue exertion of any one above the rest, which could only lead to the weakening of the one so employed, or to the sustaining it unnaturally by the sacrifice of some other. In the human microcosm each part, each function, although perfect in itself, is never self-reliant, but is sustained by the rest, and in like manner aids in supporting and invigorating the whole, whilst all thus act consentaneously; but should any one part be injured, or its functions inefficiently performed, the injury and failure of others is the natural result of their mutual dependence. "Thus if each system in gradation roll, That system only, but the whole must fall." I do not mean by this to advocate any fixed monotonous regularity of conduct (particularly in early age), which would rather weaken than strengthen the general system, by making the individual a creature |