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METHODS OF PROLONGING LIFE ; A
SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCH.
HY LAWUENOE IUWKLL.
Men of scionoe have , throughout all
ages , devoted their attention to the pos
sibility of prolonging life , and have re
garded it as a subject worthy of the
most profound investigation ; and their
researches have been attended with
benefit to posterity. As might be ex
pected , the possibility of extending the
average length of days has , from the
most ancient times , afforded a fascinat
ing and extensive field for the visionary ,
as well as for the deepest thinkers , and
plans for increasing the age to which
every man can live have usually been
among the chief allurements held forth
by empirics and impostors. By thus im
posing upon the credulity of the public ,
many notorious charlatans have acquired
rich harvests of ill-gotten gold.
Although it would be impossible to re
view all the schemes advanced , yet an
account of the most remarkable theories
advocated for the prolongation of life is
certainly deserving of notice. At the
same time , an elucidation of their fal
lacies is of no small moment in order to
ascertain their true vahie. It is , indeed ,
interesting to observe the various and
often opposite means advocated by en
thusiasts for attaining the same end.
Ancient Theories for Prolonging Life.
As far back as the Egyptian , Greek
and Bomau periods , we find the idea of
prolonging life prevalent. The Egyp
tians bestowed considerable attention
upon various measures for the attain
ment of longevity , and they believed
that life could be prolonged by the effi
cacy of sudorifics and emetics , if used
systematically. Instead of saying :
"How do you do ? " as the usual saluta
tion , they inquired of each other , "How
do you perspire ? " In those days , it was
a general custom to take at least two
emetics during each mouth. Hippo
crates and liis disciples recommended
moderation in diet , friction of the skin ,
and well-timed exercise ; all of which
were certainly steps in the right di
rection.
It was during the darkness of the
middle ages , ripe with fanaticism and
superstition , that the most absurd ideas
of witchcraft , horoscopes , chiromancy ,
and empirical panaceas for the prolonga
tion of life , first became disseminated.
The philosopher's stone and elixir of life
were then vaunted by the alchemists.
Foremost among the prolon'gers of life ,
we find Paracelsus (1490-1641) ) , an
alchemist of great renown , in spite of
his quack methods. He claimed to
have discovered the elixir of life , and so
great was his influence that even the
learned Erasmus did not disdain to con
sult him. Patients and pupils flocked
around him from every quarter of Eu
rope. Notwithstanding his famous stone
of immortality , he died at the age of
fifty. His elixir was a derivation of
sulphur similar to compound sulphuric
ether. Whatever may be said against
Paracelsus , it is an undeniable fact that
to him we are indebted for our primary
knowledge of mercury as a drug. Prior
to his time , it had not been used as a
medicine.
Astrological Methods.
About this epoch (1550) ( ) , Leonard
Thurneysser attained world-wide celeb
rity as/vu astrologer and nativity-caster.
He was a physician , printer , bookseller
and horoscopist all in one. He pro
fessed to be able , by the aid of astrology ,
not only to predict future events , but
also to prolong life. He published yearly
an astrological calendar , describing the
nature of the forthcoming year and its
chief events. His calendar , aided by
his other work , enabled him to amass a
large sum of money. His theory was
that every man came within the in
fluence of a certain star , by which his
destiny was ruled. Upon ascertaining
from , what planet a person's misfortunes
or sickness proceeded , he advised his pa
tient to remove his residence within the
control of a more propitious luminary.
In short , to escape from the influence of
a malignant to a more friendly satellite
was the basis of his method.
Marsilius Ficinus , in his "Treatise on
the Prolongation of Life , " recommended
all prudent persons to consult an astrolo
ger every seven years , thereby to avoid
any danger which might threaten them.
During the year 1470 , an individiial
named Pausa dedicated to the Council
at Leipsic a book , in which he most
strongly urges all persons desirous of
longevity to be on their guard every
seven years , because the planet Saturn ,
a hostile planet , ruled at these periods.
According to the teachings of astrology ,
metals were believed to be in intimate
connection with planets. Thus , no
doubt , it was that amulets and talis
mans originated , as reputed agents for
increasing the length of a man's life.
The disciples of this creed had amulets
and talismans cast of the proper metal ,
and under the influence of certain con
stellations , in order to protect them
selves from the evil influence of adverse
planets. These absurd conceits were at
a later period revived by Cagliostro , of
whom I shall have something further to
say. It would appear that the more mys
terious and ridiculous the conceptions of
fanatics and impostors were , the greater
was their success.
Abstemiousness.
The example of the renowned Coruaro
(1467-15G6) ( ) , affords a brilliant instance
of the superiority of an abstemious
life to the foolish doctrines put forth by
the astrologers. Up to his fortieth birth
day , he was excessively intemperate ,
both in eating and drinking , so that his
health suffered considerably. He then
made up his mind to reform and to sub
mit himself to a temperate regimen.
For the remaining sixty years of his
life , in which he almost reached a hun
dred years , he continued the observance
of his rules , with good result. While it
is true that our days may be prolonged
to some extent by exercising great mod
eration in eating and drinking , there are
other factors in the problem , of longevity , -
and rules that might be suitable for one
person would not apply to another.
Transfusion of Blood.
Shortly after the death of Louis XIH ,
of France , who was bled about forty-five
times during the last ten months of his
existence , a contrary method came into
fashion. Transfusion was for a time re
lied upon as a means of invigorating and
prolonging life. The operation was per
formed by aid of a small pipe conveying
blood from the artery of one person to
another. In Paris , Drs. Dennis and
Riva were enabled to cure a young man
who had previously been treated in vain
for "lethargy. " Further experiments
being less satisfactory , this device as a
prolonger of existence was discarded.
Francis Bacon held somewhat unique
ideas concerning the possible lengthen
ing of life. He regarded vitality as a
flame continiially being consumed by the
surrounding atmosphere , and he con
cluded that , by retarding vital waste ,
the consumption of vitality might be
stopped. He recommended cold bath
ing , followed by friction. Tranquillity
of mind , cooling food , with the use of
opiates , he advocated as the most suit
able measures for lessening internal con
sumption of "the force of life. " In ad
dition , he proposed to renovate health
periodically , first by a reduced diet com
bined with cathartics ; subsequently ,
through choice of refreshing and succu
lent foods. With a proper degree of
modification , there seems to be wisdom
in his views , excepting as regards the
use of opiates , which are , of course , un
necessary , unless sickness demands them.
Numerous charlatans have appeared
and continue to appear at intervals
who make loud assevervations of having
discovered the veritable elixir of life ,
whioh usually consists of some nostrum
for internal consumption , and with
which they 'mendaciously guarantee to
prolong our days. One of the most no
torious of these quacks was the Count
de St. Germain ( died 1784) ) , who , with
barefaced effrontery , insisted that he
had already existed for centuries by the
aid of his "Tea of Long Life , " whichhe
claimed , would rejuvenate mankind.
Upon careful examination , his miracu
lous "tea" was found to consist of a
simple combination of saudalwood , fen
nel and senna leaves.
Mesmerism.
A great stir was created in 1785 by the
occult pretensions of a fanatical physi-
t < . \