Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 30.djvu/647

Rh sixty; one was ten years in an asylum after a confinement; one had peritonitis; one had had fever at twenty-five, also jaundice and small-pox; one had "bad-stroke" at sixty, for which she was bled, and two less severe strokes at seventy; one had renal dropsy at eighty-two, lasting for two years; one had acute bronchitis at ninety-five; one had paralysis at ninety; one had severe herdes zoster; one had rheumatic fever at seventy; one had severe bronchitis at eighty-two; one had paralysis at seven; four had fever—two of them badly.

The recoveries from illness at great age are to be noted, "We find that one case recovered at eighty-two from renal dropsy, which lasted two years, and at ninety-eight recovered from a large slougb on the thigh, caused by a bruise; another from acute bronchitis at ninety-five, and pneumonia and erysipelas of the head at ninety-nine; a third from rheumatic fever at seventy; another from severe bronchitis at eighty-two; and one from severe fever at eighty-four; six had suffered injury to the hip after the age of ninety; one broke the neck of the thigh-bone at ninety; and one at one hundred and one, the latter so far recovering as to go on crutches.

Most interesting and important of all are the life-habits of these old people, among which activity, out-of-door exercise, and early rising, with moderation in diet and alcohol, stand out in strong relief, and are evidently among the important factors in longevity. At the same time, we perceive that most of them may be regarded as the attributes of the well-wearing body, that is to say, they are the resultants of health, as well as the promoters of it. The healthy, vigorous body can scarcely be otherwise than active in one way or other; and few things tend to promote health and vigor more than activity—activity without excitement—an activity which is not forced beyond the measure of good and easy repair—an activity which does not wear the body out. The candle ought to burn briskly, and, as a general rule, at both ends, regarding the head or brain as one, and the limbs or locomotory agents as the other; but it should not burn too fast; and it may be that, in some persons, an extra rate at one end is better to be compensated by a lower rate at the other. Some persons, at least, seem to find that severe and continued brain-work is incompatible with much leg-work. Into this question, however, I will not enter.

Upon out-of-door activity, with the refreshing influence of open air, stress should be laid, for it must not be supposed that exercises and athletics indoors, where they are much more exhausting, are a sufficient substitute, especially in the case of young and growing persons.

Such activity causes a brisk trade in the nutritive market; and the demand is pretty sure to be met by the supply, when food can be obtained. The moderation or spareness in diet, notably in the past habits of our centenarians, limiting the supply, prevents a wasteful overflooding of the market, and compels an economical and good employment