An EJ/ay on Longevity. 1 6$ 



jeer., it is my intention to ftate, I. The circumftances which 

 tend to promote longevity. 2. The rules which have been 

 adopted bv thofe who have attained great age. 3. The pe- 

 culiar defoliation of countries moft remarkable for long life. 

 And, 4. To add fome tables of longevity and the duration 

 of human life. 



I. Circumftances tending to promote Longevity. 

 The circum (knees tending to promote longevity may be 

 confidered under the following general heads: — 1. Climate. 

 2. Form of the individual. 3. Parentage. 4. Natural dif- 

 pofition. - 5. Situation in life. 6. Profeflions. 7. Exercife 

 or labour. 8. Connubial connections. 9. Sex. And, 10. 

 Renewal of age. 



1. Climate. — In the firft place, climate feems to be of con* 

 fiderable importance ; and it may be laid down as a general 

 rule, that the moderate, or even the coldeft climates, are the 

 mofl favourable to long life. Heat feems to relax and en- 

 feeble, cold to ftrengthen and brace, the human frame. The 

 diet alfo of hot countries is not fo nourifhing as that of cold *; 

 and there is in general a greater difpofition and greater op- 

 portunities to indulge in various exceffes in the former than 

 in the latter. But if the climate be cool, a rainy atmofphere 

 feems to be lefs unfavourable to longevity than could well be 

 imagined; for Ireland, which is a wet country, boafts of a 

 great number of old people. And a very large proportion 

 of the aged who have lived in England and Scotland, have 

 refided in the weftern, and, confequently, the rainieft counties 

 in the ifland f. 



2. Form. — The next circumftance to be confidered is, the 

 form and fize of the individual.' It is generally admitted that 

 perfons of a compact fh ape, and of a moderate feature, are 

 the moft likely to live long. Height often originates from 

 the difproportioned growth of fome particular part of the 

 body, which neceflarily has a tendency to engender weaknefs 

 and difeafe. Tall perfons alfo are apt to ^acquire a habit of 

 (looping, which contracts the cheft, and is a great enemy to 

 free refpi ration ; whereas the fhort-fized find little difficulty 

 in keeping themfelves erecl, and are naturally much more 



* In cold countries rhcy live more Upon animal, in hot countries upon 

 vegetable, food, and fruits. A judicious mixture of both is the bell plan 

 to purfue ; but, of the two, animal food is the moft nourifhing. 



f Moifture, it would appear, is not prejudicial to health, if it does not 

 affett the purity of the air. Even ftagnated water, if in peat bogs or mo- 

 rales, is not unwholelbme, as* the water, by the aftringency of the peat, 

 is prevented from becoming putrid. Lin col nib ire alio, and feveral of the 

 marfhy counties of England, can produce a number of instances of great 

 age, but probably they were from the more elevated parts of thefe diftri&s. 



M % active, 



