HOW TO PROLONG LIFE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 32, 2 November 1920, Page 7

HOW TO PROLONG LIFE

DANGER OP GRAFTING MONKEY'S GLANPS.,

It does not require Dr. Serge Voronoff's method of grafting monkey glands .on a inan to enable him t'o live to the ripe old age of 150 years. An<j what's the use of taking chances on developing tuberculosis, a disease from which 75 per cent, of tho monkeys suffer, when all •that is needed is careful attention to ordinary laws of moral and physical hygiene? This is Joan l'lnot's contribution to the constantly increasing literature on how to prolong life beyond tlio ordinary three scorc years and ten. 11. Finot lias written numerous volumes on scientific subjects, and lias just completed a treatise on longevity which embraces the results of twenty years of study. He cites scores of cases of Europeans who lhavo lived for more than a century under conditions and in temperatures not gireatly different from those here to-day. Moreover, M. Finot is nearly 70 years old, and is travelling constantly. According to his friends, he is as sprightly as a youth of 21. But let him tell his own story. "It is very easy to live to lx> 150," ho said. "First, when you reach 70 don't begin to fear death- No one must say, 'I am nenring the end.' On the contrary, keep ihinking that only half of your life has been passed. Endeavour to live in an atmosphere of constant nuto-sugge.=-tion, instead of suffering from a fnlso idea of death.

"But. this, is not enough. Keep your interior and exterior organisms healthy. Keep the skin free from imperfections. Learn to eat and drink properly. Drink less and less _and eat less. Masticate thoroughly. Above all, do not neglect to pass ten minutes in gymnastics every morning before, breakfast. That is alb Take plenty of pleasure in life, but do not abuse the pleasures."

Discussing Dr. Voronoff's suggestion for the transmission of monkey's vitality to men, M. Finot intimates that the greatest danger therein lay in men falling heir'to maladies peculiar to monkeys. "Besides, what would be the eifect on our mentality?" he asked. "Is it not possible that such rejuvenated humans would adopt the vices and the habitc of their simian benefactors?"

Ilowevor, he was unwilling to prophecy that Dr. Voroniff's theory, put into practice, would result in moil acquiring tne nut cracking, tree climbing propensity of monkeys. If. Finot called attention to the fact that religious history" is filled with incidents where such •routine as ho advocated prolonged life, for tlie eaints achieved more than double tho uinal span.