THE ART OF PROLONGING LIFE. 771 



age, and especially when sleeplessness is accompanied by slow and 

 imperfect digestion, a small quantity of a generous and potent 

 wine, containing much ether, often does good service. Even a lit- 

 tle beer improves digestion in some old people ; others find that 

 spirits, largely diluted, fulfill the same purpose. Individual pecul- 

 iarities must be allowed for ; the only general rule is that which 

 prescribes strict moderation. 



It is not to be inferred from the hints given in the preceding 

 paragraphs that the preservation of health should be the predomi- 

 nant thought in the minds of elderly persons who desire that their 

 lives should be prolonged. To be always guarding against dis- 

 ease, and to live in a state of constant fear and watchfulness, 

 would make existence miserable and hasten the progress of decay. 

 Selfish and undue solicitude with regard to health not only fails 

 to attain its object, but is apt to induce that diseased condition of 

 mind known as hypochondriasis, the victims of which are always 

 a burden and a nuisance, if not to themselves, at least to all con- 

 nected with them. Addison, in the " Spectator/' after describing 

 the valetudinarian who constantly weighed himself and his food, 

 and yet became sick and languishing, aptly remarks, " A continual 

 anxiety for life vitiates all the relishes of it, and casts a gloom over 

 the whole face of nature, as it is impossible that we should take de- 

 light in anything that we are every moment afraid of losing." 



Sleep is closely connected with the question of diet ; " good 

 sleeping" was a noticeable feature in the large majority of Dr. 

 Humphry's cases. Sound, refreshing sleep is of the utmost conse- 

 quence to the health of the body, and no substitute can be found 

 for it as a restorer of vital energy. Sleeplessness is, however, 

 often a source of great trouble to elderly people, and one which is 

 not easily relieved. Narcotic remedies are generally mischievous ; 

 their first effects may be pleasant, but the habit of depending 

 upon them rapidly grows until they become indispensable. When 

 this stage has been reached, the sufferer is in a far worse plight 

 than before. In all cases the endeavor should be made to discover 

 whether the sleeplessness be due to any removable cause — such as 

 indigestion, cold, want of exercise, and the like. In regard to 

 sleeping in the daytime, there is something to be said both for 

 and against that practice. A nap of " forty winks " in the after- 

 noon enables many aged people to get through the rest of the day 

 in comfort, whereas they feel tired and weak when deprived of 

 this refreshment. If they rest well at night there can be no ob- 

 jection to the afternoon nap ; but if sleeplessness be complained of, 

 the latter should be discontinued for a time. Most old people find 

 that a reclining posture, with the feet and legs raised, is better 

 than the horizontal position for the afternoon nap. Digestion 

 proceeds with more ease than when the body is recumbent. 



