. An Effay on Longevity. l6j 



in Scotland, is fuppofed to have reached even 132 years*. 

 His age, indeed, could not be proved by direct, but it reds on 

 very ftrong circumftantial, evidence ; and a perfon of the moft 

 undoubted authority (Dr. Walker, profeflbr of natural hiftory 

 in the univerfity of Edinburgh,) informs me, " that in his 

 mufcles, joints, and in his whole conformation and afpe6t, 

 he wore the appearance of more remote antiquity than he 

 had ever feen in any human creature. " But on the whole, 

 farmers, gardeners, and labourers in the country, are in ge- 

 neral the longeft lived. Foot foldiers alfo, who have furvived 

 the dangers of war, are remarkable for long life. They are 

 generally (tout and vigorous men, and the regularity to which 

 jfurviving foldiers muft have accuftomed themfelves, whilft 

 the carelefs and diforderly drop off, the erect pofture to which 

 they have been trained, and being of courfe men well formed 

 by nature, and habituated to march and walk well, (which 

 familiarizes them to a natural and healthy exercife,) all com- 

 bine in their favour. 



7. Exercife or labour. — It is alfo proper to remark, that 

 not only mocferate exercife, but even labour, if not too fe- 

 vere, contributes to good health and old age. In many in- 

 ftances, perfons have worked at threfhing, and other labo- 

 rious occupations, expofed to a current of f refh air, after they 

 had pa(Ted beyond the age of 100; and, if accuftomed to them, 

 they do not appear to have fuffered any inconvenience from 

 fuch exertions. 



8. Connubial conneSions . — Nor ought it to be omitted, that 

 a large proportion of the long-lived have preferred a married 

 to a fingle ftate, and in general have left behind them a nu- 

 merous family. Whether a life of celibacy occafions difeafe, 

 or leads to irregularity, or fours the temper, or to whatever 

 other caufe it ought to be attributed, may be a fubject of dif- 

 pute, but it is certain that the number of fingle perfons who 

 live long bear no proportion to the married f* 



9. Sex.-— Further, though a greater number of males are 

 born than of females, at lealt in European countries, yet 

 there is reafon to believe that of the two fexes, women reacji 

 old age in the greater!, proportion. For this various caufes 

 may be afligned, as the greater regularity and temperance of 

 their mode of living, their being lefs expofed to dangers and 



* It is f iid that neither of thefe inflances ought much to be wondered 

 at, as a glafe- blower ;s constantly expofed to frefh and dry air, and the 

 labour of miners under s^rouiid is not for many hours, and they generally 

 refide in hilly diftricls. ' 



t This applies to both fexes, in particular to the male. Dr. Rum, of 

 .del phi a, afleits, that he never law but one unmarried man exceed 

 fourfcore years.. 



M 3 hardships, 



