480 O F O L D A G E 



irfe by the ufe of certain medicines, would 

 have peiKhed with themfelves, if felf-love did 

 not always induce us to believe what exceeds 

 the powers of Nature, and to be fceptical with 

 regard to the mod certain and invariable truths. 

 The univerfal panacea, the transfufion of the 

 blood, and other methods which have been pro- 

 pofed to render our bodies immortal, are as chi- 

 merical as the fountain of youth is fabulous. 



When the conftitution is found, life may, 

 perhaps, be prolonged for a few years, by mo- 

 derating the paiTions, and by temperance. But 

 even this is a difficult point; for, if it be necef- 

 fary that the body fhould exert its whole force, 

 and that it fhould wafte all its powers by labour 

 and exerclfe, what advantages can we derive 

 from regimen and abftinence? Some men have 

 indeed exceeded the ordinary term of human 

 life: Without mentioning thofe extraordinary 

 infiances of longevity recorded in the Philofo- 

 phical Tranfadions, fuch as that of Par who 

 lived to the age of 144, and of Jenkins who 

 lived 165 years, we have many examples of the 

 prolongation of life to no, and even 120. 

 Thefe men, however, ufed no peculiar arts for 

 the prefervation of their bodies. They appear, 

 on the contrary, to have been peafants, huntf- 

 men, labourers, and people accuftomed to abufe 

 their bodies, if it be poffible to abufe them by 

 any other means than thofe of continual idlenefs 



and debauchery. 



Befide, 



