Chap. 43-1 Symptoms of old Age. 413 



more flowly, and the lower extremities with more ra- 

 pidity. The head indeed ceafes to grow much fooner 

 than the other parts ; for thefe, and particularly the 

 thorax, feem to gain fize and ftrength for feveral 

 years after the head, has arrived at its utmoil dimen- 

 fions. 



At the age of fifteen or fixteen years, fooner in fe- 

 males than in males, and fooner in warm countries than 

 cold, the figns of puberty begin to manifeft themfelves, 

 and feveral changes now take place in the body, which 

 it would be improper to (late. 



When the body has attained its full growth and 

 ftrength, it does not immediately decline, but remains 

 in a ftate of nearly equal vigour till between forty and 

 fifty years of age. At this time the body begins fenfi- 

 bly to lofe its agility, and the approaches towards old 

 ay;e, which had hitherto been infenfibly going on, now 

 begin to manifeft themfelves. 



But though the "body has now loft confiderably of 

 i;s agility, yet in perfons of good conftitutions, and who 

 have not been remarkably intemperafie, its ftrength re- 

 mains pretty entire. After the age of fifty, however, 

 the decline of body becomes much more apparent; 

 there is no longer that fpring and vigour of motion; 

 and labour becomes more irkfome and painful. From 

 the age of fixry to that of feventy the health is fre- 

 quently pretty good, but the ftrength fails confiderably. 

 Threefcore and ten years is the age of man ; and though 

 there may be forae remarkable inftances to the con- 

 Jrary, yet, in general, exiftence protraded beyond this 

 period is forrow and mifery. 



In the whole progrefs of life the body is continually 

 becoming lefs vafcular. The vivid bloom of youth, 

 which is owing to the ramifications of minute arteries 

 in the (kin of the cheeks, fubfides into the moderate 



hue 



