MAN. THE INSTINCT OF LIFE ^ND' DEATH. 35g 



improved, will be the work of time and science. 

 Realized at last it will serve as a solid basis for 

 individual, family, and social morality. Healthy 

 youth fit for action ; prolonged, adult age, the 

 symbol of strength ; normal old age, wise in council, 

 these would have their natural places in harmonious 

 society. " Great actions," said one of old, *' are not 

 achieved by exertions of strength, or speed, or agility, 

 but rather by the prudence, the authority, and the 

 judgment which are found in a higher degree in old 

 age." The old age of which Cicero here speaks is 

 the ideal old age, regular and normal, and not the 

 premature, deformed, incapable and egoistic old age 

 which results from a pathological condition. At the 

 end of this full life, the old man being full of days, 

 will crave for the eternal sleep and will resign 

 himself to it with joy. . . . 



Death, then, " the last enemy that shall be 

 destroyed," to use the expression of St. Paul, will 

 yield to the power of science. Instead of being 

 " the king of terrors," it will become after a long 

 and healthy life, after a life exempt from morbid 

 accidents, a natural and longed for event, a satisfied 

 need. Then will be realized the wish of the 

 fabulist : — 



" I should like to leave life at this age, just as one 

 leaves a banquet, thanking the host, and departing" 



Has this physiological solution of the problem of 

 death the virtue attributed to it by Metchnikoff? 

 Is it as optimistic as he thinks it is ? The instinct 

 of death supervening at the end of a normal and 

 well-fiiled cycle will no doubt facilitate to the aged 

 their departure on the great voyage. The wrench 



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