CONCLUSION. 393 



But the whole amount of these which we lose by sickness 

 that prostrates us, is much less than the amount of those lost 

 by the many lesser ailments or debilities which impair our 

 energies and diminish our ease in small degrees, and for 

 short periods, and thus lay light, but very frequent taxes 

 upon our vitality. There are hours or days when we have 

 colds, headache, pain or stiffness in the limbs ; when we are 

 heavy and inert from indigestible or over-abundant food, or 

 other causes; when we are timid or irresolute, irritable, peev- 

 ish, or melancholy ; when we have not the full control of all 

 our faculties, because the body or the mind does not willing- 

 ly, or cannot, direct all its energies to our intended purpose 

 These, individually, make but slight deductions from the 

 force, the productiveness, and the enjoyments of life; yet, 

 when added together, their sum is very great. 



933. Not only are the power and the value of life very 

 materially diminished in its course by the greater, and lesser 

 sicknesses and indispositions, weakness, and languor, but life 

 itself is shortened by these and other causes connected with 

 our existence. The natural period of human life, in favora- 

 ble circumstances, is supposed to be seventy years; yet com- 

 paratively few reach that term. The average duration of 

 life differs in different countries. According to the bills of 

 mortality, the average age of those wjio died in England was 

 30 years and 10 months ; in Sweden, 30 years and 8 months ; 

 and in Russia, of the males, 22 years. In Massachusetts 

 12-2, in England 13'8, in Ireland 10'6, in Sweden 14'6, 

 arid in France 18'9 per cent, of all who died were over 70 

 years old. There is still a wider difference'm the duration of 

 life in the various classes of society even in the same place. 

 In England, the average duration of life of the families, in- 

 cluding the parents and children, among the most favored 

 classes, was, in Liverpool, 35; in Rutlandshire, 52; and in 

 Wiltshire, 60 years ; and among the poorer classes it was, 

 in Liverpool, 15 ; in Rutlandshire, 38 ; and in Wiltshire, 

 33 years. Wherever the same examination has been made 

 in this country, a similar difference in the duration of life 

 has been shown. 



