Volume 1

Buffon's Natural history, abridged. Including the history of the elements, the earth, mountains, rivers, seas, winds, whirlwinds, waterspouts, volcanoes, earthquakes, man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, shell-fish, lizards, serpents, insects, and vegetables / [George Louis Leclerc Buffon].

  • Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de, 1707-1788.
Date:
1792
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Buffon's Natural history, abridged. Including the history of the elements, the earth, mountains, rivers, seas, winds, whirlwinds, waterspouts, volcanoes, earthquakes, man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, shell-fish, lizards, serpents, insects, and vegetables / [George Louis Leclerc Buffon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    95/486 (page 47)
    THE PASSIONS. under-lip is raifed, in order to join the middle of the upper one. In laughter, the two corners of the mouth are extend- ed, and fomewhat raifed ; the upper part of the cheeks is raifed, and the eyes are more or lefs clofed ; the upper lip is raifed, while the under one is lowered ; and, in immo- derate laughter, the mouth is opened, and the fkin of the nofe is contracted. When the conftitution of the body is found, it is pofti- ble perhaps, by moderation in the paftions, temperance and fobriety, to lengthen out the period of life for a few years. But even of this there feems to be an uncertainty; Men no doubt there are who have furpafled the ufual period of human exiftence; and, not to mention Par, who lived to the age of one hundred and forty-four, and Jenkins, to that of one hundred and fixty-five, as recorded in the Philofophical Tranfadlions ; we have many inftances of the prolongation of life to one hundred and ten, and even to one hundred and twenty years. Yet this longevity was occafioned by no peculiar art or management. On the contrary, it appears, that the generality of fuch long- livers were pealants accuftomed to the greateft fatigues, huntfmen, or labourers; men, in fadl, who had employed their whole bodily ftrength, and even abufed it, if to abufe it is poftible, otherwife than by continual idlenefs and de- bauchery. If in the duration of life there is any difference to be found, it ought feemingly to be afcribed to the quality of the air. In elevated fituations, it has been ‘obferved, there are commonly found more old people than in fuch as are low. The mountains of Scotland and Wales, of Auvergne and Switzerland, have furnifhed more inftances of extreme longevity than the plains of Holland or Flanr ders, of Cjermany or Poland. In general, however, the period of human exiftence may be faid to be the fame in every country. If not cut off by accidental difeafes, Man is found to live to the years of ninety or an hundred. Be- yond that date our anceftors did not live; nor has it in any degree varied fince the time of David. -^rom a careful infpedfion of the regifters of burials, in a certain number of country parifhes in France, com- pared with the mortality of Paris, the following table has been made out of the probable duration of human life. TABLE