Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1890 — STATISTICS OF OLD AGE. [ARTICLE]

STATISTICS OF OLD AGE.

.t» A«alyßin of Returns Respecting FiftyTwo English Centenarians. Prof. Murray Humphry has fust brought together a remarkable book on “Old Age.’’ says the Pall Mall Gazette. It is based upon the results of an inquiry conducted by the collective investigation committee of the British Medical association. In a portion of it the analysis of the returns respecting 52 centenarians are given; of these 1(5 were males and 36 females. Eleven of these weiaj single (10 being females), 5 were Tnarried, and 36 were widowed. Out of 60 reurns 3 only wore in afiluent circumstances, 28 were comfortable, and 19 poor; of these 9 were fat (8 being females). 20 were spare, and 18 of average condition. Twenty-live were erect in figure and 25 were bent. Out of 35 returns 28 used glasses. 7 did, not,; out of these 4 were poor. 6 had used glasses for 40 to 50 years, 5 for 30 to 35, 4 for 10 to 20. 2 for 4 to 6 years, 5 for “many years,” 2 for a few years. From among these 1 had used spectacles for many years, but for the last 12 vears had been able to read without them; another had not used them for 12 years, another “not for many years,” but I can not now get them strong enough. Ourofreturns-40-hod-a—good-di-gestion. 7 Out of 48, 86 had good appetites, 2 b»d. and ten moderate. Of 47, 25 were moderate eaters. 9 small, and 12 large.’ In regard to aic< h >l. 15 took none,-24 a little, 6 were moderates, and 1 was used to a good deal of beer. Of aui-

• -•- SB mat iu<»u o look none, 10 moderate, 29 little, 2 very little,* and 1 mueh. Of aperients, 22 took them rarely, 14 never, and 6 of 39, 26 could say that their memory was good. 6 bad, and 7 moderate. Of 45, 7 smoked much (4 being women), 2 little (one a woman), 3 moderately (one a woman.) Out of 40, 37 did not take snuff. As to sleep out of 40, 32 were good sleepers, 5 bad and 7 moderate. From 35 returns the average time of going to bed was 9 o’clock; but 1 retires at 12, and lat 11, 5 at 7; 7 are bedridden. The average time of risings was about 8 o’clock, but 6 rose afr •# o'clock, lat 5, 9 at 10, 1 at 11, and 1 at 4 p. m. Out of 42 returns 25 had no teeth, and from 28 returns but 4 had artificial teeth; yet in men about 80 the average number of teeth is only 6 and m women 3. In 12 returns the average age when married among the males was 23 aud the females 25; the average number of children is, from the returns. received. 6-7.