Dr. Father gill on "Longevity . 
ing, whether his parents were healthy, long-lived 
people, See. &c. An accurate regifler, thus 
eftablifhed throughout the Brttijh dominions, 
would be productive of many important advan¬ 
tages to fociety, not only in a medical, and 
philofophical, but alfo in a political and moral 
view. It is therefore to be hoped, that the 
legiflature will not long delay taking an object, 
of fuch great utility, into their ferious con- 
fideration. 
All the circumflances, that are molt efientially 
neceffary to life, may be comprized under the 
fix following heads. 
1. Air and climate. 
2. Meat and drink. 
3. Motion and reft. 
4. The fecretions and excretions. 
5. Sleep and watching. 
6. Affedions of the mind. 
Thefe, though all perfectly natural to the 
conftitution, have by writers, been ftyled the 
non-naturals , by a flrange perverfion of lan¬ 
guage ; and have been all copioufly handled 
under that improper term. However, it may 
not be amifs, to offer a few fhort obfervations 
on each, as they are fo immediately connected 
with the prefent fubjeff. 
1. Air, Sec. It has long been known, that 
frefb air is more immediately neceflary to life 
than food ; for a man may live two or three 
days without the latter, but not many minutes 
without the former. The vivifying principle 
contained 
