case. "'* eloquence. About the commencement of ago! This hath God wrought." At the the 10th century, there were in the abbey age of 82, Mr. Wesley observes: "To-day of Croylard three monks who died at an I entered on my 82nd year, and found myextraordinary age. One of them, named self just as strong to labour, and as fit for Clerambaut, lived 148 years; another called exercise in body and mind, as I was forty Swarlingue, 142 years; and the third, whose years ago." Again: "I am as strong at name was Turgar, died 115 years old. 81 as I was at 21, but abundantly more Detailed accounts of great numbers of in- healthy, being a stranger to the headache, dividuals who lived to an immense period toothache, and other bodily disorders which of life are given in various works. It will attended me in my youth." Also at the be impossible to adduce more than a few, age of 83, he remarks: "I am a wonder to and those chiefly of more recent date. Bu-myself: it is now twelve years since I have chanan speaks of one Lawrence, who, by felt any such sensation as weariness. I am his temperate and laborious habits, attained never tired (such is the goodness of God!) to the age of 140 years. Spotswood men- either with writing, preaching, or travelling; tions that Kentigern (afterwards called St. one natural cause, undoubtedly, is my conMongah) lived to the age of 185 years.- tinual exercise and change of air.' From an early period he refrained from Dr. Baynard, in an appendix to Sir John the use of wine and strong drinks. Bollan-Floyer's "History of Cold Bathing:" "As dus affirms the same fact. water is in chief the universal drink of all Earl Stanhope and family: "My father the world, both animals and vegetables, so was a weakly child; he was taken early to it is the best and most salubrious; for withGeneva, where a celebrated medical pro-out it no plant or creature could long subfessor, who had formerly been a pupil of sist. That good and pure water has a the great Boerhaave, was consulted on his balsamic and healing quality in it, I could He advised that he should use much give many instances, as well externally in exercise, and drink nothing but water. He curing of wounds, as internally, as ulcers, adhered strictly to that advice; and when, excoriations, &c. For I once knew a genin after years, his habits became sedentary, tleman of plentiful fortune, who, by some he still used only water. He became clear accident, fell to decay; and, having a nuand vigorous in his various energies of merous family of small children, whilst the body and mind, and exerted his faculties father was a prisoner in the King's Bench, almost to the last moment of his life. My he was reduced almost to want; his wife grandfather was also a water-drinker, and and children living on little better than was vigorous and active in body and mind; bread and water. But I never saw such a and even at the age of seventy-two devoted change in six months' time, as I did in his several hours a day to abstruse mathemati- unhappy family; for the children, that were cal studies. My grandmother, whose health always ailing and valetudinary, as coughs, for years was weak and feeble, drank only king's-evil, &c., were recovered to a miracle, water; but she enjoyed to an extreme old looked fresh, well-coloured and lusty, their age the use of her ordinary faculties; nor flesh hard and plump. But I remembered did she feel uncomfortably exhausted when the mother told me, it being a plentiful near her dissolution, which took place year of fruit, she gave them often baked when she was ninety-three years of age." apples, with their coarse bread, which, I Rev. John Wesley: "I can hardly believe think, might very much contribute to their that I am this day entered into the 68th health. And that most remarkable story year of my age! How marvellous are the of Alexander Selkirk, a Scotchman, who ways of God! How has he kept me even from a leaky ship, was, upon his own refrom a child! From 10 to 13 or 14, I had quest, set on shore on an island in the South little but bread to eat, and not great plenty Sea, called Juan Fernandez, about the laof that. I believe this was so far from titude of thirty-three degrees, where he hurting me, that it laid the foundation of lived four years and four months, by himlasting health. When I grew up, in conse-self alone, and eat nothing but goat's flesh quence of reading Dr. Cheyne, I chose to and drank water, having neither bread nor eat sparingly, and drink water. This was salt, as he told me himself at Bath, where another great means of continuing my I met him; and that he was three times as health till I was about 27. I then began strong, by exercise, as ever he was in his spitting of blood, which continued several life. But, when taken up by the two ships, years. A warm climate cured this. I was the Duke and Duchess, sent out from Brisafterwards brought to the brink of death by tol for the South Sea, that eating the ship a fever, but it left me healthier than before. fare with the other seaman, and drinking Eleven years after, I was in the third stage beer and other fermented liquors, his of a consumption: in three months it pleased strength by degrees began to leave him, God to remove that also. Since that time like cutting off Samson's hair, crinitim (to I have known neither pain nor sickness, and make a word), or lock by lock, so that in am now healthier than I was forty years Speech at Exeter Hall. * Wesley's Journal, vol. iii., p. 391; and vol. iv., P. 276. one month's time, he had not more strength | Bath again in two days more, and than another man. I insert this relation to that he was then near eighty-seven years of show that water is not only sufficient to age, as may be seen by the register. subsist us as a potulent drink, but that it He is a straight, upright man, without liquifies and concocts our food better than stooping, and of his great age moves wonany fermented liquors whatsoever; and even derfully nimble. He has an ungrateful those strong and spirituous liquors, were it name, though an honest fellow, for it is not for the watery particles in them, would Seth Unthanke. His eldest sister has been prove altogether destructive, and so far dead a year. Of twenty-two children, he from nourishing, that they would inflame has a brother living, 10 years older than and parboil the tunicles of our stomachs, as himself; his eldest brother has been dead is daily seen, and especially in the livers three years. He has a sister living in of most clareteers, and great drinkers of Spittle, within half a mile of Berwick, 16 other strong liquors." years older than himself. His uncle was John Bailes. Related by Dr. Baynard. 126 years old when he died; he was a penAbout two years and a half since, going sioner to the Bishop of Durham." into the north country, and lying at North- Sir John Floyer, in his work on " Cold ampton, I desired my landlord of the inn to Baths:" "Richard Lloyd, born two miles show me the famous old man so much talked from Montgomery, was aged 133 years of. When I came into his room, I saw a within two months; a strong, straight, and short, broad-breasted old fellow sitting down upright man; wanted no teeth; had no by the fire-side on a low stool. I asked gray hair, it all being a darkish brown him how old he was; he answered me, that colour; could hear well, and read without he was 128 and a half. I found, by the spectacles; fleshy and full-cheeked, and the nicest inquiry I could make, that he was calves of his legs not wasted or shrunk; he not far short of that age, as appeared by could talk well. He was of a tall stature; the testimony of several people, some near, his food was bread, cheese, and butter, for others above, 100; and they all say, that the most part, and his drink whey, butterhe seemed to be an old man ever since they milk, or water, and nothing else: but being could remember; that he was born in the by a neighbouring gentlewoman persuaded town, but before registers were used, &c. to eat flesh meat, and drink malt liquors, He had a very strong voice, and spake very soon fell off, and died. He was a poor laheartily and loud. He said (not designing bouring man in husbandry, &c. To the it as a jest), that he should never die so truth of this, the copy of the register prolong as he could breathe freely, which is no duced affirmed it." Sir John Floyer consmall happiness. This old man, whose cludes his remarks in the following quaint name was John Bailes, told me that he had style: "A hundred examples of this kind buried the whole town of Northampton, ex- may be found to confirm the doctrine of cept three or four, twenty times over. temperance and cool diet, as necessary to Strong drink,' quoth the old man, 'kills 'em the prolongation of life; but if an angel all.' He told me that he never was drunk from heaven should come down and preach in his life, and that water, small beer, and it, one bottle of burgundy would be of milk were his drink, sometimes taken per se, more force with this claret-stewed generasometimes mixed; and that his food was, tion than ten tuns of arguments to the for the most part, brown bread and cheese; contrary, though never so demonstrable and he cared not much for flesh meats. He was divine." a sensible old fellow, and had no disease but Sir William Temple, among other narrablindness, which had seized him not above tives of long-lived persons, relates one of four or five years," &c. an old man who begged usually at a lonely Seth Unthanke. Related by Dr. Baynard. inn upon the road, in Staffordshire. He "There is at Bath an old fellow, in the was 124 years old. Sir William Temple summer time, who is an assistant to the inquired of the man what his usual food playhouse. I have observed this old fellow, was: "He said, milk, bread and cheese, once in a week, or sometimes oftener, to go and flesh when it was given to him. I to a milk-house, (where I used often to asked him what he used to drink: he said, drink milk,) to fill a great pitcher (which Oh, sir, we have the best water in our held at least six or seven quarts) of new parish in the whole neighbourhood!' Whebuttermilk, but always kept it until it was ther he never drank anything else? He sour, and then drank of that, and nothing said, yes, if anybody gave it him, but not else, all the summer months, (i. e.) from otherwise. The host told me, he had got April and May until October; the remain- many a pound in his house, but had never ing part of the year he drank either water spent a penny." or small beer, though he told me that in his Francis Hongo, died, A.D. 1702, aged 114 youth he had sometimes drank strong years, ten months and twelve days. He drinks, but they never agreed with him; left behind him forty-nine children. He and he also told me, that, not two years was never sick. His sight, hearing, meago, he went from Bath to London on foot, mory, and agility, were the surprise of all. in two days, and then came home to At 110, having lost all his teeth, he cut Thomas Winsloe died in 1796, aged 146 two large ones in his upper jaw, one year before he died. He used for drink only years. He was conspicuous for his sober water; never wine, strong waters, coffee, or habits and regular life. tobacco. His habits in other respects were temperate.* Miscellanea, contains a very remarkable account of an old man, 120 years of age, without the loss of a tooth, and of a brisk and lively disposition, whose drink, from his infancy, was pure water. Dr. William Mead, of Ware, Herts, died in 1652, aged 148 years and nine months. He was a physician of considerable reputation and extensive practice, and exceedingly sober and regular in his habits. Anne Meynard, at her death aged 112, and buried at Finchly, Middlesex, in 1756. She was intelligent, and exceedingly sober and abstemious in her habits. Andrew Tieraqueaus, the famous civilian, who is said, for thirty years together, to have given yearly a book, and, by one wife, Thomas Laugher, aged 113, died in 1813, a son, to the world, never drank anything at which time he was living in remarkably but water from his infancy.-Vide "The good health. He walked well for his great best and easiest Method of preserving unin- age, rose at four o'clock every morning, and terrupted Health to extreme Old Age," &c. took a long walk before breakfast. From a manuscript found in the library of never drank strong beer, small beer, or an eminent physician, lately deceased, 8vo. spirits. His principal diet was coffee, tea published 1748, p. 64. His life is in Bayle's bread, and water. His father died at the Dictionary†. age of 97, his mother at 108, and his son He Thomas Parr, of Shropshire, died in 1635, at 80. aged 152 years and nine months. He was Mary Potter, aged 106, died in 1839,resided a man of abstemious habits and_regular at Larkhall, near Bath. She never drank mode of life. In 1635, he undertook a jour- beer or spirits, and ate very little animal ney to London, by desire of the King, food. Her principal diet was bread and The royal bounty and change in air and milk, tea, and vegetables. Her sight and diet probably hastened his death. Taylor, memory were very good. She was cheerthe water-poet, describes his usual beverage, ful and happy, although, from an attack of or, as he facetiously terms itillness, unable to walk about. his daily swig Milk, buttermilk, and water, whey and whig. Henry Jenkins, of Yorkshire, died in 1670, aged 169 years. He was a man of active life and sober habits, and retained his sight and hearing to the last. At the age of 160 he bound sheaves of corn for farmers, having abandoned his original employment as a fisherman. Mr. Crossley, aged 100 years and nine months, died at Uttoxeter, September 26th, 1836. He retained the use of his faculties until the last. He was remarkable for his temperate habits, milk having been his principal beverage for many years before his death. A Scotch Newspaper notices an old woman living at Glasgow, who is 130 I. Effingham, of Cornwall, died in 1757, years of age, and for the last fifty years aged 144. He had been accustomed from she has taken nothing stronger than tea or coffee. She never had occasion to take his infancy to labour, and for many years served as a common soldier and corporal. a doctor's drug, nor was a lancet ever apHe afterwards worked as a day-labourer plied to her frame. She is perfectly free from affections of the chest, and during the until his death. In his youth he never drank strong or stimulating liquors. He last century has been a perfect stranger to always lived temperately, and seldom ate pain. Her pulse does not exceed seventy animal food. Until his 100th year, he strokes in a minute. Her grandfather died was almost a stranger to sickness. Eight days before his end he walked three miles. William Aldridge died in 1698, aged 114 years. He was remarkable for his retentive memory and sober habits. John Woods died in 1818, aged 122 years. He was regular and sober in his habits, and exceedingly abstemious with regard to his diet. at the age of 129, and her father died in the 120th year of his age. Her grandfather and father were very temperate. Another old woman died recently in the western part of England. She was 110 than 200 of whom attended her funeral. years of age, leaving 450 descendants, more This woman had never taken any kind of intoxicating liquor until she was 30 years Jonatham Harlop, of Aldborogh, York-of age, remained a very moderate drinker shire, died in 1791, aged 138. He could read twenty years, and for the last sixty years of her life never took anything of an intoxito the last without spectacles, and enjoyed an uninterrupted flow of spirits. On cating nature, unless occasionally ordered Christmas day, 1789, he walked nine miles by her medical adviser. to dine with one of his great grand-children. He always ate moderately, and his only be verage was milk and water. Livers, by Eugenius Philalethes, 1722, p. 91. † Sinclair,"Code of Health and Longevity." Anne Parker died on Friday the 3rd of February, 1837, aged 109,-the oldest inhabitant of Kent. During her whole life she abstained from spirituous liquors, indulging only in tea. Mrs. Letitia Cox died on the 26th of June, 1838, at Bybrook, Jamaica. She that becomes 'beautifully less,' his glass inoutlived the eldest inhabitant in this parish creased in an inverted ratio, and his meafor many generations. By her account, sure amounted to two bottles per day of the she was a grown-up young woman at the best Cognac, when he died a driveller and time of the destruction of Port Royal by an a sot." earthquake. She declared that she never About the time the above remarks were drank anything but water during the whole penned, an inquest was held on the body of of her life. She must have been upwards Mrs. Selina who fell a victim to injuof 160 years old. dicious medical advice. She was found An old black woman, at Holland's Estate, drowned, in the basin, opposite the palace, died eighteen months ago, at 140 years old. in Kensington Gardens, London. It apShe also declared she never drank anything peared, from the evidence of her husband, a but water.* respectable architect, that the deceased had, on account of her weak state of health, been advised to take port wine, and strengthening potations. Her health was restored by these means; but, unfortunately, she imbibed such a partiality for wine and spirituous liquors, as to cause her husband and her own relations to relinquish all intercourse with their misguided connection. The jury returned a verdict of "Temporary derangement, brought on by continued intemperance." SECTION VI. THE DISUSE OF ALCOHOL AS A MEDICINE. So long as alcohol retains a place among sick patients, so long will there be drunkards; and who would undertake to estimate the amount of responsibility assumed by that physician who prescribes to the enfeebled, dyspeptic patient, the daily use of spirit, while, at the same time, he knows that this simple prescription may ultimately ruin his health, make him a vagabond, shorten his life, and cut him off from the hope of heaven? Time was when it was used only as a medicine; and who will dare to offer a guarantee, that it shall not again overspread the world with disease and death?-DR. MUSSEY. It is the sacred duty of every one exercising the profession of medicine to unite with the moralist, the divine, and the economist, in discouraging the consumption of these baneful articles, and, as the first step in the scheme of reformation, to discountenance the popular notion of their medical efficacy. -PROFESSOR CHAPMAN. I. The medicinal use of alcohol, a frequent source of intemperance.-II. The opinions and experience of eminent medical writers on this subject. In a previous section of this work some powerful facts were adduced to show that the use of alcohol, as a medicine, has been a prolific source of intemperance. At the present stage of the temperance reformation, the importance of the subject seems to require its more extended consideration. Recent publications detail the following melancholy narrations: "A young female, in a menial situation, having suffered much from long-continued ill health, applied for relief to her medical adviser. He inquired into the nature of her complaint, and recommended her frequently to take a little gin, which he told her would render her essential service. Her friends, anxious to restore her to health, devoted a portion of their scanty means to secure her the possession of the lauded medicine. Their kindness, however, was of no avail; she became worse and worse; and at last applied to an eminent physician for further assistance. He candidly told her, that if she continued the use of the gin, it would most certainly conduct her to an early grave. Judicious medical treatment restored her health; the mischief, however, was irretrievably done; she acquired a craving for alcoholic stimulants, and is now a confirmed and abandoned drunkard." "The wife of a respectable mechanic acquired habits of intemperance. The use A well-known writer in "Frazer's Maga- of 'Chambers' Medicine,' with appropriate zine," not long ago related the following moral treatment, restored her to virtue and melancholy fact: "I could produce some happiness, and for six years she was a sodreadful instances of persons becoming con- ber, industrious woman, and an exemplary firmed drunkards, from being ordered to wife and mother. After her fourth confinedrink brandy-and-water instead of wine- ment, being in rather a feeble state, her nurse formerly a favourite prescription of the Eng- advised her to take a little spirit; in three lish M. D. Perhaps the most remarkable months, the exemplary wife and mother of any was the case of a physician himself, became a most pitiable drunkard! who resided at Chester when I was a boy. constant habits of intoxication in which she He was a clever man in his profession, found means to indulge rendered it necessary an elegant scholar, and temperate almost to send the child out to nurse. The poison to an extreme. His digestive powers, how- worked its deadly changes; the loss of the use ever, becoming deranged, he was induced of her lower limbs, and mental faculties, to drink brandy-and-water to restore them entirely formed the prelude to a premature --and mark the result. He began with a grave. little, and weak; but, unlike the pyramid, *Jamaica Royal Gazette. The It is contended, by numerous medical writers, that the use of alcohol as a medicine is indispensable. Without entering, how ever, into the consideration of its judicious extent. Future investigations will place and occasional use, it is requisite that we this question in a stronger light. Most should inquire whether other medicines persons imagine that they are competent to of similar properties and equal value are prescribe wine or spirit and water, and not accessible to the medical profession. accordingly act with thoughtless freedom, The determination of this point renders it forgetful of the fact that their ignorance and not less important to ascertain the influence inexperience on medical points renders them of the practice, in a moral and Christian unable to detect those functional or organic point of view. Medical men, as the guar- diseases which sometimes are so insidious in dians of the public health, are responsible their nature as even to perplex the most for the evils which may result from injudi- able and experienced member of the medical cious advice or indiscriminate sanction. profession." It is quite common," remarks Humanity, too, demands a sacrifice. The Mr. Fothergill, of Darlington, "for medical ensnaring properties of alcohol are too well practitioners, on being called to cases of attested by mournful experience, and no le- fever or inflammation, to find that spirits, gitimate means of removing the incalculable wine, hot spiced ale, or black beer, have evils which it occasions should be left untried. been previously given as sudorific antispasmodics, or even as emetics, and still It may be urged with considerable force, more frequently as cordials, and from a that the value of alcohol as a medicine is popular notion of their specific qualities. no slight argument against its use as an or- On inquiring of a person labouring under dinary beverage. Medicines, to be abso- chronic inflammation of the pleura, as to his lutely efficatious, must be administered only previous treatment, I was informed that he in cases of need; inasmuch as, when long had been bled, and drank rum and milk continued, they lose their beneficial effects. every morning! In another inflammatory This remark is correct, and to judicious case, on hinting my suspicion that some minds, no doubt, will have its due influence; strong liquor had been taken by the patient, the mass of the people, however, are unable the answer was, 'Only some black beer and to appreciate its force. rum; we thought it would make her sweat.' The importance attached to their use by Such examples might be multiplied to medical men, for the cure of disease, natu- almost any extent. In cases of debility, rally leads to the crude but popular notion where there has been gradual diminution that these liquors possess extraordinary vir- of strength, with loss of flesh, wine and tues; and hence many are induced by de- malt liquors are constantly recommended grees to use as common beverages that which by kind neighbours and friends, although at first was intended only to be employed as these symptoms most frequently depend an occasional remedial agent. The cravon functional or structural disease of ings of appetite, too, lend their aid to this some important organ which requires the dangerous delusion. The result has been utmost attention and skill of the experienced melancholy in the extreme. practitioner to discriminate with certainty and treat with success." It is moreover a subject of deep regret that medical sanction should so freely be The use of alcoholic beverages in thougiven to the common and dietetic use of sands of cases tends to frustrate the judicious alcoholic liquors. Such a practice, to say treatment of medical men. In other inthe least, is not only a departure from the stances it has been found that medical limits of strict medicinal use, but a dan-treatment has been more successful where gerous tampering with articles which ex- their employment has been altogether disperience stamps as peculiarly ensnaring in continued. The following case is in point: their nature. Some of the most eminent" The master of one of the most extensive members of the profession, as detailed workhouses in the vicinity of the metropoin previous sections, have unequivocally lis, Nov., 1835, forwarded a document, from expressed their regret that the weight of which the following extract is made, to one their authority should have been given to a of the members of the British and Foreign practice fraught with evil, whether it re- Temperance Society. In this establishment gards the physical or moral welfare of the it was customary to use gin medicinally. human race. It is of importance to re- The year before the document was written, member the well-grounded remark of Sir the practice was discontinued. Ashley Cooper: "We have all been mistaken we have called these drinks stomachics and tonics when we should have] called them stimulants." : 1827 1834 232 31 26 53 58 Number of inmates, average 239 The great source of mischief, in the common and indiscriminate use of alcoholic drinks, consists in the ignorance of the The statements of Dr. Cheyne and others, public of these latent abnormal conditions given in a previous section, exhibit this reof the system, which exist to a remarkable sult to a forcible and instructive extent.—degree in our large towns, and which the Daily experience confirms the accuracy of use of alcohol aggravates to a serious past investigations. |