364 
Dr. Fother gill on Longevity. 
into the various means, that have been con- 
fidered as conducive to health and long life; 
and, if poffible, to diftinguifh fuch circumftances 
as are effential to that great end, from thofe 
■which are merely accidental. But here, it is 
much to be regretted, that an accurate hiftory 
of the lives of all the remarkable peifons, in the 
above table, fo far as relates to the diet, regimen, 
and the ufe of the non-naturals , has not been 
faithfully handed down to us ; without which, 
it is impofiible to draw the neceffary inferences. 
Is it not then a matter of aftonifhment, that 
hiftorians and philofophers have hitherto paid 
fo little attention to longevity ? If the prefent 
imperfect lift Ihould excite others, of more 
leifure and better abilities, to undertake a full 
inveftigation of fo interefling a fubjedt, the 
enquiry might prove not only curious, but 
highly ufeful to mankind, in order to furnifh 
materials for a future hiftory of longevity, the 
bills of mortality, throughout the kingdom, 
ought firfb to be revifed, and put on a better foot¬ 
ing ; agreeably to the fcheme which you point¬ 
ed out fome time ago, and of which Manchefter 
and Chefler, have already given a fpecimen, 
highly worthy of imitation. The plan, however, 
might be further improved, with very little 
trouble, by adding a particular account of the 
diet and regimen -of every perfon, who dies at 
eighty years of age, or upwards j and mention- 
1 
