OLD AGE.*
Vanrous writers have attempted, from time to time, to teach mankind how they may attain to old age. Lewis Corner°, the famous Venetian, for instance, recorded his experiences for the benefit of future generations; and the late Mr. Mortimer Collins wrote a book on The Art of Long Life. Cornaro's advice, though it is even more unpalatable than advice com- monly is, has at least the merit of coming recommended by the distinguished success of its author. Arresting himself suddenly in a course of excess when he had reached middle- age, he succeeded in reaching his hundredth year. • Mr. Mortimer Collins, on the other hand, gave precepts of a much more genial kind, so genial, indeed, that "A Short Life and a Merry One," was suggested as a more appropriate title of his volume; but he failed to give them the weight of personal success, dying in the very prime of life. Professor Humphrey is far too wise to make any such attempt. With true scientific modesty he depicts facts. If there ever is to be an Art of Longevity, it is for a distant future to elaborate it. At pre- sent we must be content with what we have here, that is, to quote the sub-title, with " the results of information received respecting nearly nine hundred persons who had attained the age of eighty years, including seventy-four centenarians." Very interesting this information is, and possibly not without some practical bearing on life. But it must be allowed that there are so many circumstances which are wholly beyond our own control, and so much doubt about those in which it is possible to exercise choice, that the prospect of being able to deduce any system of rules for long life is, to say the least, remote.
One thing is, indeed, established. Centenarianism, about which Mr. Thome, backed up by Sir George Cornewall Lewis, was sceptical, if not absolutely incredulous, is an undoubted fact. It was objected that the reputed cases were of persons whose history was obscure, and that no one who had lived before the public was included in the number. This is no longer true, if, indeed, it ever was. M. Chevreul, who died last year in his hundred and third year, had been long a well-known scientific man, and the dates of his life were
• Old Age By George Murray Humphrey, M.D. Cambridge: Macmillan and Bowes. 1889. beyond all question. The advanced age of Lady Smith of Yarmouth, of Canon Beadon, and of the Rev. Hugh Totty, to mention a few names out of many, was equally well estab- lished. In the case of a clergyman, there can, indeed, be no room for doubt. One who lives as much as seventy-six years after receiving priest's orders must be accepted as being in all reasonable probability a genuine centenarian. When so much has been proved, we need not make much trouble about accepting a little more. William Harvey had no doubt about the extraordinary age attributed to Thomas Parr (one hundred and fifty-two years). His minute account of the post-mortem examination shows that the common signs of age were con- spicuously absent. It is only reasonable to suppose that a man who had, like Harvey, the true scientific habit of mind, would have had his suspicions excited by this remarkable fact, and would have taken pains to satisfy them. A less familiar name is that of John Bayles, of Northampton, who died in 1706 at the reputed age of one hundred and thirty. Here, again, we have a medical description, with details which seem to have satisfied the observer that the reputed age was at least near the troth. " The oldest people remembered him to have been old when they were young." Here there were more signs of age, but there were also indications of ex- traordinary vigour in some of the organs. These are the two highest figures recorded. That which most nearly approaches them is the case of a Mrs. Leatherlund, who is said to have died at the age of a hundred and ten, unless we are to reckon the unnamed great-aunt of a certain Mr. Williams, who is said to have sat at the head of her table for a hundred Christmas Days, having been married at the age of fifteen. This was recorded by Sir Duncan Gibb as recently as 1875. Professor Rolleston gave an account of one Josiah Pratt, who was said to be a hundred and seven. His mother was one hundred and four at her death, and his grandmother one hundred and ten. But it is only right to add that there are some doubts about the accuracy of the figures. As we write, the papers mention the celebration of the hundred and fifth birthday of a Scotch veteran. This old gentleman seems determined to compete for the higher honours of centenarianism, for he is reported to have let a house for seven years, with the remark that at the end of that time he was resolved to occupy it himself.
When we come to examine the probable causes of long life, we naturally put heredity in the first place. There is nothing on which the Insurance Offices lay so much stress as a good family record, and the result of Professor Humphrey's inquiries certainly goes to confirm the principle. When we come to personal characteristics and habits, we find the ground less certain. Stature seems a somewhat doubtful point. On the whole, the aged persons about whom Professor Humphrey received information were above the average. But it does not appear that any about whom we have detailed information were actually tall. Among ten centenarians, where the height was given, the average stature of the women was 5 ft. 3 in.; of the men, 5 ft. 83/4 in. In the case of John Bayles, of Northampton, the advanced age is expressly attri- buted to the " low stature," along with " largeness of the chest and goodness of the lungs." Fatness seems, on the whole, adverse, but not absolutely fatal to longevity. Out of fifty returns (the returns are not as complete as they might be), nine only were fat, and of these one only was a man. Only one male centenarian was a bachelor, but as many as ten females were unmarried. Alcohol suggests an interesting inquiry. Out of forty-six returns, as many as fifteen took none at all ; one only is described as taking " a great deal of beer." The vegetarians do not come out as well as the total abstainers. Only three out of forty-one returns took no animal food; on the other hand, only one is described as having taken much. Seven out of forty-five smoked a great deal (four of the seven being women), and five others more or less. Snuff was in less favour than smoked tobacco, for three only out of forty used it, and two out of these three were women. The details of physical and mental condition are curious and interesting. It is satisfactory to observe that, on the whole, the intellectual powers of these venerable people are good. Out of forty-six returns, we have eleven described as " high," and only one as absolutely childish. Memory often fails, while the powers of reasoning and observation remain unimpaired. But out of thirty-nine, twenty-six are recorded as having a " good " memory, and only six as " bad." Seven. out of forty-five were bed-ridden, and sixteen more were confined to the house. One vigorous old person worked in the field at one hundred and two, and another was " much out." None had a bad digestion, and only two a bad appetite, a much more satisfactory average than can be found among people who are still a whole generation off their hundredth year. Only one out of forty-nine was deaf, and as many as thirty-four out of fifty-one had good sight. It is in accord with common experience that all either were using at the time or had formerly used spectacles. In past history it is noticeable that twelve out of thirty-eight were first children, a fact somewhat at variance with common belief on this subject. Previous good health was the common con- dition; but one is described as having been "often ailing." The numbers of the various classes seem to be fairly dis- tributed, with a certain advantage in favour of the " golden mean." Out of forty-nine returns, three were "affluent," twenty-eight "comfortable," and eighteen "poor."
Professor Humphrey deserves the thanks of the community for his painstaking investigations. It is only to be regretted that his efforts have not been more effectively seconded. The returns are, as has been said, provokingly incomplete. But at least a beginning has been made. " The hill of knowledge," as is observed in the oration reprinted in the first chapter, "is mounted with slow and laborious steps, and we must be con- tent to advance little by little." But the advance is made in the right way and in the right spirit. In any case knowledge is its own reward ; but it is possible that these remarks may possibly help forward the realisation of the ideal that the average age of man should be in accordance with what has been declared to be the law of animal life, five times the duration of the period of growth.
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