5. Occupation. No person that leads an idle life will ever attain to great age ; but health and long life must depend much on the manner in which the indivi dual is employed. Those occupations are certainly the most conducive to the duration of life, which are carried on in the open air, and require activity or la bour; thus farmers, gardeners, and la bourers in the country, are in general the longest lived. Foot soldiers, also, who have survived the dangers of war, are remarkable for long life : they are generally stout and vigorous men, and the regularity to which surviving soldiers must have accustomed themselves, whilst their careless and disorderly companions have dropped oft; the erect 'posture to which they have been trained, and being of course men well formed by nature, and habituated to walk well (by which they enjoy the most natural exercise in per fection) all combine in their favour. Sailprs also would furnish many instances of longevity, if comfortably provided for in their old age ; of this a striking proof is given in the accounts drawn up by Dr. Robertson of the pensioners in Green wich Hospital. In the year 1801, the complement of in-pensioners was 2410, of whom there were 96 of the age of 80 years and upwards ; of this number 13 were above 90 years of age, and one man 102 years old. The number of out-pen sioners was about 2500, of whom it ap peared there were only 23 from 80 years of age and upwards. Of the former there fore about 4 in 100 survived 80 years of age, but of the latter not 1 in 100 attained that age, a sufficient evidence of the bene fits of regularity and ease in the advanced period of life, and of. the attention paid to the health of the in-pensioners at that excellent institution.
6. Mode of Living. If persons were to live with the simplicity of ancient times, it is probable that they would attain long life, without experiencing any material illness, merely by a proper attention to air, exercise, clothing, and diet. But in the present state of society, the great bulk of the community follow, not a natural, but an artificial, mode of life, and thence are perpetually exposed to various temp tations, which they find it difficult always to resist, and to dangers which they can not always avoid. Most persons however have it in their power in some degree to regulate their manner of living by their own choice ; and by a little attention to their food, clothing, employment, rest, And temper of mind, might not only con tribute materially to the prolongation of their lives, but preserve themselves from many diseases, and greatly increase their relish for all the enjoyments of life.
The importance of wholesome food, for the preservation of health and promoting long life, and the avoiding of excess, whether in eating or drinking, is suffi ciently obvious. Some instances, indeed, are recorded of persons who have con tinued to commit excesses, and have lived long ; but these are to be consider ed in no other light than as exceptions to a general rule ; and it may reasonably be contended, that if such persons lived to A great age, notwithstanding their intem perance, they would have lived much longer had they followed a different course. Experience will point out those
articles of food which are best adapted to the constitution of each individual, and there cannot be a better rule than to ad here to them as far as circumstances will permit. It may be observed, however, that people in general, especially those who do not labour, eat much more than nature requires ; that a little abstinence or self-denial may often be of use, either to prevent or to cure disease ; and at any rate, that none but hard working people, the young who are growing fast, or per sons who are travelling about, should eat more than one full meal each day.
As to clothing, much must depend on situation and climate ; but it is generally found a useful practice to wear woollens next the skin. It is remarked in many parts of Scotland, that since the use of flannel shirts has been given up by the lower orders, the rheumatism, and other diseases formerly unknown, have become very frequent, and are daily increasing. In the West India islands, if care be taken to make the troops wear flannel shirts, they are generally exempt from various disorders, which otherwise would pro bably have attacked them. Even the negroes themselves are said to prefer flannel to cotton or linen, and find it a much more comfortable and useful dress.
Exercise cannot be too much recom; mended ; and as the inhabitants of large towns, and persons engaged in sedentary occupations, cannot take all the exercise abroad that may be necessary for their health, they ought as much as possible to accustom themselves to be walking about even in their own house, for though this practice does not make up for the want of exercise abroad, it is certainly the best substitute for it. Exercise. is attended With the advantage of creating an inclina tion to retire early to rest, and of induc ing soundIsleep. Every one should take all the repose that nature requires, but should never continue long in bed with out sleeping. Early rising, even if car ried to an extreme, is far more conducive to health and long life, than late hours at night and slumbering in bed in the morning.
There is nothing that can tend more to long life than for a person to obtain a complete command of his passions, and in particular to preserve his mind from being ruffled by the occurrences of life. Perhaps there is no maxim more likely to promote good health, and consequently the duration of life, than that of paying a proper attention to temper, temperance, and sleep. By good temper the mind is preserved from disease ; and by tem the body ; and both the mind and the body, when exhausted, are again recruited and restored to their former strength, by a sufficient quantity of re pose.