1 6*3 An Tjfay on Longevhy.- 



liardfhips, lefs fubje& to violent agitations, and generally en- 

 dowed with more cheerfulnefs and gentlenefs of dilpoution. 



IO. Renew. I of youth. — In the lall place, among thefvm- 

 ptoms of longevity, none is more (Inking than when nature 

 feems to renew itfelf, by producing, even in old age, new teeth, 

 new hair, &c; but the inltances of this are extremely rare. 

 II. Rules t ending to promote long Life. 



We {hall now proceed to ftate fuch rules as have been fol- 

 lowed by thofe who have attained great age, as they may 

 furnifh fome hints that may be fervieeable to others. 



The plan laid down by the celebrated Cornaro is well 

 known, and the abftemious manner in which he lived has 

 often been recommended to the imitation of others ; but I 

 cjueftion much whether many would wifh to lead the fnme 

 life for the fake of mere exilience. Life is no longer deflra- 

 ble than whilfl it can be enjoyed with fome degree of fatif- 

 fadtion, and it is of little confequence, if a perfon* merely ve- 

 getates, whether he lives or not. 



Without entering therefore into various pajticulars, fitter 

 for the difcuilions of experimental philofophv than for real 

 life, (as weighing the food taken, &c. &c.) we fhall proceed 

 to mention the rules which have been found the moil effec- 

 tual, and which are the moil likely to be carried into prac- 

 tice. They may be claffed under the following heads :— 

 I. Food. 2. Clothing. 3. Habitation. 4. Labour or ex- 

 ercife. 5. Habits or cufloms. 6. Medicine. And, 7. Dif- 

 pofition of mind. 



1. Diet. — The importance of wholefome food for the pre- 

 servation of health and long life, and the avoiding of excefs, 

 whether in eating or drinking, need not be dwelt upon. 

 Some inftances, indeed, are mentioned of perfons who have 

 continued to commit excefTes and have lived long; but thefe 

 are to be confidercd in no other light than as exceptions from 

 a general rule; and it may reafonably be contended, that if 

 fuch perfons lived to a great age notwithstanding their intem- 

 perance, they would have lived much longer had they fol- 

 lowed a different courfe. 



2. Clothing. — It is equally unneceffary to detail at any 

 length the neceflity of warm clothing, more efpecially in 

 advanced life, and during the cold feafons, as the beft mode of 

 preventing a number of difeafes to which old men are particu- 

 larly expofed, and which by no other means can be avoided. 



3. Habitation. — The health of every individual muil greatly 

 depend on the place where he refides, and the nature of the 

 ho ufe which he inhabits; and as it has frequently been re- 

 marked that the greateft number of. old people die in winter, 



and 



