AN ESS A y ON LONGE VITY. I 2 3 



and vigorous raised by natural selection from the 

 masses. 



The apparently higher longevity of England, as 

 contrasted with other western European states, may 

 be due to a somewhat higher development. Hufeland 

 states that Danes and Englishmen are the longest- 

 lived races, basing his opinion on the reputed cases of 

 abnormal longevity in these countries, which are, 

 however, of doubtful value as scientific evidence. He 

 explained the supposed fact by the cold climate of 

 these countries, and there may be possibly some 

 truth in this notion, as we saw that a sluggishness of 

 vital actions is induced by cold in the case of the 

 American aloe ; but this explanation is very doubtful. 

 Sweden does not give a higher or as high a poten- 

 tial longevity (judging by the expectation of life at 

 sixty) as England, though its climate is as cold or 

 colder. The higher evolution or civilization of the 

 Anglo-Saxons — or, better, Kelto-Teutons — into which 

 not only are they born as members of a community, 

 but which they inherit individually as a tendency, 

 and which makes them alone able to colonize suc- 

 cessfully, may not improbably be connected with 

 their higher longevity. How is it, then, it may be 

 asked, that the American branch of the race are 

 reputed to be shorter-lived than Europeans } The 

 subject here opened out is one of vast interest and 

 practical importance, which we do not now propose 

 to discuss in detail, connected as it is with that 



