153 KEPORT— 1871. 



vessels, yet was a conserTator of all the tissues of the hody, and especially pre- 

 vented the occuiTence of those changes which tend to shorten life. There was an ab- 

 sence of the atheromatous changes commonly observed in old people. This explained 

 the appearance of the coimtenance in all, and imparted a sort of silver)/ expression, 

 with apparently great toughness of the skin, which the author deemed an essential 

 peculiarity in persons over ninety. All the sjjecial senses were unimpaired except 

 hearing. The eye was clear in all, the sight excellent, all could read ordinaiy type 

 without spectacles ; there was no arc or ring roimd the clear part of the eye, as 

 observed in most old people. The sense of smell was good ; none smoked, used 

 snulF, nor chewed tobacco. The hearing was somewhat impaired in three ; in one 

 of the males it was so acute that he could hear the slightest soimd. The mental 

 faculties were active in all, the memory good. The general health was capital in 

 all, appetite and digestion good, the latter, indeed, imcotnmonly strong ; all pos- 

 sessed the good, sound teeth they had masticated with when yovmg. From this it 

 was readily understood their digestive powers were capital. Taking, then, the 

 . condition of mind and body presented by the four undoubted centenarians, it may 

 be said that in all there was an absence of those changes usually observed in per- 

 sons approaching the allotted period of threescore and ten. These changes have 

 reference chiefly to the condition of the blood-vessels and other tissues which are 

 so seldom found absent. Suffice it to say that complete composure of mind 

 throughout life has had much to do with the condition of body permitting the 

 attainment of such great longevity ; there was no hereditary condition also to 

 interfere with nature's laws vuider such circumstances. Climate does not seem to 

 interfere with longevity, for centenarians are said to be numerous in Russia. To 

 reach that age not only must the constitution be natm-ally a good and he.althy 

 one, but all the gTeat functions of Hfe must be performed without any impediment. 

 If the special senses are coordinately good, they assist in keeping up the condi- 

 tion favourable to longevity. But there is one change antagonistic to extreme 

 longevity, and it is the most important one — namely, the predominance of the 

 atheromatous element which leads to those changes, in the blood-vessels especially, 

 which close life at the natural period. Simplicity of regimen and avoidance of 

 those elements of food which in their assimilation help to bring on those changes 

 may ward it ofl' altogether, although the author was not able to make out whether 

 the four centenarians ho spoke of had been in any way particular on this point. 

 In conclusion, he said he believed all centenarians were tired of life, however 

 extraordinary it might appear, and were thankful when it pleased God to remove 

 them from this world. 



A Note on tlie Fat Woman exJiibiting in London. 

 Bi/ Sir Dt7>-cax Gibb, Bart., M.D. 



As a rule, he said, enormously fat women were rare compared with men. 

 Caroline Heenan, now exhibiting in London, is twenty-two years old, and weighs 

 40 stone, or 5G0 lbs. ; she is 7 feet round the body, 3 feet inches across tlie 

 shoulders, and 26 inches round the ann. Differing from most fat people, though 

 the limbs are very large, they are not exclusively composed of fat, a large pro- 

 portion being due to muscular development, which is confirmed by her history 

 and actual inspection. The chest and abdomen are of course enormous, but not 

 from simple obesity. Her growth and enlargement have been progi-essive from 

 infancy, and withal she has been able to sustain gi-eat muscular exercise that 

 would have fatigued ordinary persons, which is opposed to the view of pure 

 adipose enlargement. At nine months she weighed 70 lbs., at nine years she was 

 11 stone, and at fourteen years 24 stone. She is handsome and pleasing, ftice not 

 fat nor greasy, is highly intelligent, and not in any way drowsy. She will in all 

 probability progi-essively increase as she gets older, and may become the largest 

 and heaviest female who has yet been seen. 



Tlie Hereditary Transmission of Endotvments and Qualities of diff'erent Jdnds. 



By Geoege HAEras, F.S.A. 



