Sketcher. Prolonging Lif.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1973, 28 February 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Sk etcher. Prolonging Lif.

Tun possibility of prolonging human life bas undoubtedly, from the most ancient times, afforded a fascinating and extensive field alike for the visionary and the deepest thinkers. Plans for prolonging existence have ever been amongst the principal allurements held forth by empirics and impostera; and by thus imposing upon the credulity of the public, many notorious charlatans have acquired rich harvests of ill-gotten gold. Men of science have throughout all ages devoted their attention to the subject, as one deserving of the most profound investigation. And their researches have been attended with more or less benefit to posterity. We find that Bacon himself attached so much importance to the matter that he prosecuted inquiry in that direction with the utmost assiduity. Although it would be almost impossible to review all the schemes advanced, yet a review of the most notable theories advocated for prolongation of lifo is certainly deserving of attention. At the same time, an elucidation of their fallacies, as occasion may arise, ia of no small moment, in order to ascertain with greater certainty their true value. It is indeed interesting to observe the various and often opposite means advocated by enthusiasts for attaining the same end. Even as far back as the Sgyptian, Greek, and lioman penods, we find the idea of prolonging life prevalent. The Egyptians bestowed considerable attention to the attainment of longevity, and they believed that life could be prolonged through the effioaey of audoritics and emetics continually used. Instead of saying, ' How do you do Tas an ordinary salutation, they inquired of eaoh other, 1 How do you perspire ? ' In those days, it was a general custom to take at least two emetics during each month. Hippocrates and his disciples recommended moderation in diet, friction, and well-timed exercise, which was certainly a step in the right direction. It was during the darkness of the middle ages, ripe with fanaticism and superstition, that the most absurd ideas of witchcraft, horosoopes, chiromancy, and empirical panaceas for the prolongation of life first became disseminated. The philosopher's stone and elixir of life were then vaunted by the alchetnisn. Foremost among the prolongers of life we find Paracelsus, an alchemist of great renown, and a ma°n of considerable attainments. He claimed to have discovered the elixir of lifo. Ho great was his influence, that even the learned Erasmus did not disdain to consult him. Patients and pupils flooked around him from every quaiter of Europe. Notwithstanding his famous ' stone of immortality/ he died at the sge of fifty. His vaunted elixir was a kind of sulphur similar to compound sulphuric ether. Nevertheless, to the researches of Paracelsus we are indebted for our primary knowledge of mercury, whioh he was the first to use as a medicine. About this epoch, one Leonard Thurneysser attained world-wide celebrity as an astrologer and nativity-caster. He was a physician, printer, bookseller, and horoscopist all in one. He professed that, by the aid of astrology, he could not only predict future events, but likewise prolong life. He published yearly an astrological calendar, desoribmg the nature of the forthcoming year and its chief events. His calendar and other quackeries enabled mm to amass the sum of one thousand florins. He declared that every man lay under the influence of a certain star, by which his destiny was ruled* On ascertaining from what planet a person's misfortunes or siokness proceeded, he advised his patient to remove his residence within the oontrol'of a more propitious luminary. Iv short, to escape from the influence of a malignant to a more friendly satellite was the basis of his theory. MarsiliuB Ficinus, in his Treatise on the Prolongation of Life, recommended all prudent persons to consult an astrologer every seven years, thereby to avoid any danger whioh might threaten them. During the year 1170, an individual named Pans* dedicated to the council of Loipsic a book entitled The Prolongation of Life, in whioh he most strongly urges all peisons depirous of longevity to be on their guard every Beven years, because Saturn, a hostile planet ruled at these periods. According to the teaohings of astrology, metals were believed to be in intimate conniption with the planets. Thus no doubt it was that amuletn and talismans originated, as reputed agents for prolonging life. The disciples of thi» creed hud amulets and talismans

cast of the proper metal, and under tho influence of certain constellations, in order to proteot themselves from the evil influence of advorso planet?. These absurd conceit? were at n later poriod revived by Cagiiostro, of whom we shall have moro to say presently. It would indeed appear that the more mysteiiou3 and ridiculous the conceptions of fanatics and itnposters weio, the greater was their success. The eiample of the renowned Cornaro affords ft brilliant instance of the Biipeiiority of an abstemious life to the foolish dootnues put forth at that period. Up to forty years of age he was excessively intemperate both in eating and drinking, so that his health euffered considerably. He then resolved to submit himself to a strictly temperate regimen, and for the remaining sixty years of hia life which almost reached one hundred years, he continued the observance of his rules, with the result given. Although life might be prolonged by exercising greater moderation in eating and drinking than is generally adopted, yet, nevertheless, few personß could safely follow so strict a dietary. Shortly after the death of Louis XIII. of France, who was bled forty-seven times during tho last ten months of existence, a contrary method came into faflhion. Transfusion was for a time relied upon as a means for invigorating and prolonging life. The operation was performed by aid of a small pipe conveying blood from the artery of one person to another. In Pahs, Drs Dennis and IViva were enabled to cure a young man who had previously been treated in vnin for lethargy. Further experiments not being so f atisfaotory, this devicd rb a piolonger of life became discarded. Francis Bacon held somewhat unique ideas regarding the possible prolongation of existence, lie regarded life as a flame continually being coiißumad by the surrounding atmosphere, and he thence concluded that by retarding vital waste and renewing the bodily powers from time to time, life might be lengthened. With the objeot of preventing undue external vital waste, he advised cold bathing, followed by friction. Tranquillity of mind, cooling food, with the n°e of opiates, he advocated as the most suitable measures for lessening internal consumption. Furthermore, he proposed to renovate life periodically, firpt by a spare diet combined with cathartioa ; subsequently, through choice of a refreshing and succulent diet. With some degree of modification, there seems to be much wisdom in his views, excepting as regards the use of opiates which are decidedly of a prejudicial nature. Numerous charlatans have appeared, and still appear at intervals, loud in their assevpra tions of having discovered the veritablo elixir of life— gold, tinctures, and many other nostrums with which they mendaciously promise to prolong life. The most netorious of these empirics wan the Count de St. Germain, who with barefaced effrontery protested that he had already existed for centuries by aid of his " Tea of Long Life," which he declared would rejuvenato mankind. On close examination, his miraculous philter was ascprtained to consist of a simple infusion of sandal-wood, fennel, and senna leaves. A great stir was created in 178 1 ) by the occult pretensions of a fanatical physician in France named Mesmer. He vaunted the possession of extraordinary magnetic power, which enabled him forthwith, by its agenoy, to remove every disease and prolong life. At the king's desire, a commission was instituted to report upon this phenomenon in which Dr Franklin took a leading part. The oiily practical result of this inquiry was the di a covery of animal electricity. At one time, Mesmer refused three hundred and forty thousand livres for his secret. After Dr Franklin's investigations, Mesmer lapsed into obscurity. LaSt, but not least in the foremost rank of importers was Joseph Baldamo, alias Count de Gagliostro. This charlatan appeared just before the French Involution. During his remarkable career, Cagliostro made more than one fortune, which he subsequently lost, and died in prison in 1795. The distinguished Cardinal de ltohan was one of his chief dupes. Like St Germain, Balsamo boasted that he had discovered the elixir of life, and throughout Europe, found persons of all degrees eager to possess his panacea. This elixir was a very powerful stomachic, possessed of great stimulating properties, tending to augment vital sensations. It is a fixed law of nature that everything which increases the vital forces tends to abridge their duration. Conoentrated and potent stimulants, which are usually the active principle of most elixirs, although for the time increasing physicial strength are in truth very prejudicial to longevity. W<3 will now pas 3 on to examine other theories more worthy of attention, before we proceed to establish what at present appears to be the most certain means for promoting lonqovity. The plan of, hardening ' — baaed upon a false supposition that by toughening the physical organs they would wear longer — obtained at one time numerous followers. When wo reflect that the main prinoiple of life depends upon the pliability of every organ, combined with fee circulation, it naturally follows that rigidity must be unfriendly to longevity. Perpetual cold baths, exposure to keen air, and exhausting exorcise, were advocated by the hardening school. 1 Like most enthusiasts, they carried their ideas to excess, a limited use of which would have been beneficial. Later on a theory well suited to the idle and luxurious, gained many adherents, namely, to retard bodily waste by a trancelike sleep. On, enthusiast, Maupertuis, went so far as to propound the possibility of completely suspending vital activity. Even Dr Frjinklin.having observed the restoration of apparently dead flies by exposure to warmth, was struck with the feasibility of promoting long life by the agency of immobility. The misconception of this theory, from a physiological point of view, is at once self-evident, as want of exercise is simply poisonous to health. Upon a constant metamorphosis of tho tissues, physical well-being must depend to a great extent. A destructive plethora would most certainly be induced by attempting " vital suspension." That celebrated Feet of mystical philosophers, tho Eosicrucians— famous for their profound acquaintance with natural phenomena, and the higher branches of physical, chemical, and medical science — considered that human existence might be protracted far beyond its supposed limits. They professed to retard old age by means of certain medicaments, whose action upon the system should curb the progress of natural decay. The means by whioh they professed to check senile decrepitude, were, like other mysteries of their fraternity, never revealed. The celebrated English Itosicrucian Dr. Fludd, whose writings became fainous.Jia said to have lived a century. The principal disadvantage of the various plans which have been set forth for promoting longevity, appears to be that they are all deficient in this important respect— that they only regard one object, and neglect the rest. However boae/icial any theory may prove, it must bejmaterially inadequate in fulfilling its purpose, hliould numerous others matters of the greatest importance bearing upon the human economy be ignored. Hufeland, in his luminous work The Art of Prolonging Life, is of opinion thas the real art of longevity consists of cultivating thoso agents which protract existence, and by avoiding all circumstances tending to shorten its duration. This is undoubtedly the most reasonable method for obtaining the end in view. Moderation in all things (avoiding as far as possible every morbific condition), and open air exercise, are far more reliable means of prolonging l»fe than any of the ehxirj and panaceas ever advocated. Finally, health and longevity can only be attained by an intimate acquaintance with and obedience to those natural laws which govern our physical e couomy. — Chambers Journal.

An ecccntrio character in Milwaukee, known as the " Count," distinguished himself particularly by spending as muoh aa $1,000 a week for wine. One way of accomplishing Buch a feat was to vine bottles of champagne as tenpins, and smash nearly a case of Clicquot at one " Btrike."