The Victorian Quest for the Century Mark

It has been said that the human frame, as a machine, is perfect; that it bears no mark within it by which we could produce its decay; that it is apparently calculated to go on forever, and only by experience have we learned that it will not do so. A French writer has tersely remarked that, usually, men do not die—they kill themselves. An English physician, Mr. Gardner, has lately published a work on the means of prolonging life after middle age. He sees no cause to despair of the discovery ultimately of a genuine elixir of life. Meanwhile, he would prolong the reign of youth by tranquility of mind, sobriety, and uniformity of temperature. Dr. Duncan Gibbs, who has personally examined six persons over 100 years of age, confirms Dr. Gardner's views. In all six, Dr. Gibbs found the lungs and heart perfectly whole. All six had good 'bellows-power,' as evidenced by the firmness, sonorousness, and clearness of voice. Dr. Gardner would not undertake to lay down rules by observing which each one could make himself a centenarian. The task is an impossible one, and yet his advice is not wholly to be disregarded. If a man would add to his years let him take care of his lungs by properly exercising them, of his heart by avoiding all undue excitement, of the brain by cultivating tranquility. Let him be temperate and pay a proper regard to the cleanliness and temperature of his person, and he will have done more for himself than a doctor and the whole pharmacopoeia can do.