SECT. XXXVIL 5. i. SECRETION, &c. 365 



a fecond time, becaufe it is not fucceeded by fenfation. See 

 Sect. XIL 3 6. And hence, owing to the want of the gener- 

 al pleafurable fenfation, which ought to attend digeftion and 

 glandular fecretion, an irkfomenefs of life enfues *, and, where 

 this is in greater excefs, the melancholy of old age occurs, with 

 torpor or debility. 



From hence I conclude, that it is probable that the fibrillx, 

 or moving filaments at the extremities of the nerves of fenfe, and 

 the fibres which conftitute the mufcles (which are perhaps the 

 only parts of the fyftem that are' endued with contraftile life) 

 are not changed, as we advance in years, like the other parts of 

 the body ; but only enlarged or elongated with our growth ; 

 and in confequence they become Jefs and lefs excitable into ac- 

 tion. Whence, inftead of gradually changing the old animal, 

 the generation of a totally new one becomes neceflary with un- 

 diminifhed excitability \ which many years will continue to ac- 

 quire new parts, or new folidity, and then lofing its excitability 

 in time, perifh like its parent. 



V. From this idea the art of preferving long health and life 

 may be deduced ; which mud confift in ufmg no greater ftimu- 

 lus, whether of the quantity or kind of our food and drink, or 

 of external circumftances, fuch as heat, and exercife, and wake- 

 fulnefs, than isfufficient to preferve us in vigour ; and gradual- 

 ly, as we grow old to increafe the ftimulus of our aliment, as 

 the inirritability of our fyftem increafes. 



The debilitating effeds afcribed by the poet Martial to the 

 exceflive ufe of warm bathing in Italy, may with equal propriety 

 be applied to the warm rooms of England ; which, with the 

 general exceflive ftimulus of fpirituous or fermented liquors, 

 and in fome inftances of immoderate venery, contribute to 

 {horten our lives. 



Balnea, vina^ Venus^ corrumpant corpora noftra : 

 At faclunt vitam balnea^ i)ina^ Venus ! 



Wine, women, warmth, againft our lives combine; 

 But what is life, without warmth, women, wine! 



SECT. 



