OF NATURAL HISTORY. 507 



Vance In years, the bones harden, the mufcles turn ftifF, the 

 «artilages are converted into bones, the membranes into car-- 

 tilages, the flomach and bowels lofe their tone, and the 

 Avhole fabric, inftead of being foft, flexible, and obedient to 

 the inclinations, or even the commands of the mind, becomes 

 rigid, ina<fi:ivej and feeble. Thefe are the general and pro- 

 greffive caufes of death, and they are common to all animals. 

 There are modes of living more favourable to health than 

 others. But examples are not wanting of men who have ar- 

 rived at extreme old age, without obferving either temper- 

 ance, or any of the other modes of living which are general- 

 ly fuppofed to be favourable to longevity. Some men, who 

 lived temperately, and even abflemioufly, have reached to 

 great ages : Others, who obferved the very oppoiite conduct, 

 who lived ft eely, and often intemperately, have had their ex- 

 iftence equally prolonged. But, in general, notwithflanding 

 a few exceptions, temperance, a placid and chearful difpofl- 

 tion, moderate exercife, and proper exertions of mind, con- 

 tribute, in no uncommon degree, to the prolongation of life. 



A few examples of longevity in the human fpecies, though 

 no general conclufions can be drawn from them, may not be 

 incurious to the reader. We fliall not go back to a ramote 

 and obfcure antiquity, but confine ourfelves to more modern 

 times, v/lien the modes of living were nearly the fame as they 

 are at prefent. 



On this fubjedlj tlie celebrated Lord Verulam, in his Syi* 

 va Sylvarum*, gives the following paiTage, chiefly tranflated 

 from the feventh book of PHny's Natural Hifl:ory : « The 

 ' year of our Lord feventy-fix, falling into the time of Vef- 



< paflan, is memorable ; in which we fliall find, as it were a 



< kalendar of long-lived men : For that year there was a tax- 

 * ing, (now a taxing is the moil authentical and truefl: inform- 

 « er touching the ages of men), and in that part of Italy whiclv 



< lieth between the Appenniae mountains and the river Po, 



* Page 293. 



