On human longevity and the amount of life upon the globe / by P. Flourens ; translated from the French second edition, by Charles Martel.

  • Flourens, P. (Pierre), 1794-1867.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On human longevity and the amount of life upon the globe / by P. Flourens ; translated from the French second edition, by Charles Martel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    72/216 (page 54)
    Buffon, “ while animals appear to pass through the period of life with firm and steady pace .... The passions, with their attendant evils, exercise great influence upon the health, and derange the principles which sustain us. If we observe men, we shall see that almost all lead a nervous and contentious life, and that most of them die of disappointment.”* * * § We have just seen the opinion of Buffon, let us now proceed to Haller, and add the judgment of the physiologist, to that of the naturalist. “ Man should be placed,” says Haller, “ amongst the animals that live the longest; how very unjust, then, are our complaints of the brevity of life.”f He first enquires what can be the extreme limit of the life of man; and he gives it as his opinion that man might live not less than two centuries. “ Non citra alterum seculum ultimus terminus vitae humanse subsistit.”j As I have before mentioned,§ he collected a * Vol. II., p. 334. -f Elementa Physiologies. Vol. VIII., lib. xxx., p. 95. f Ibid. Vol. VIII., lib. xxx., p. 96. § Page 20.