LONGEVITY MA Y DEPEND ON CHOOSING LIGHT JOB

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29070, 5 December 1959, Page 10

LONGEVITY MA Y DEPEND ON CHOOSING LIGHT JOB

Medical Experts Weigh Our Expectation Of Life [By WAKEFIELD JONES] LONDON, November 30. WHAT are your chances of becoming a centenarian? n In recent years all sorts of fantastic figures have been freely mentioned, not least by the Russians, who talk about rejuvenating hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers —indeed practically every part of the human anatomy and extending the average span of human existence to somewhere between 150 and 200 years.

But when it actually comes to knocking up the first 100, it may prove just as difficult as in some other spheres. Sir John Charles, Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health for England and Wales, is not on the side of the optimists.

In his latest report Sir John Charles states that the increasing numbers of deaths from cancer and from degenerative diseases of the circulatory system are tending to keep the figure of expectation of life stationary.

Far from the average life being assessed at around the 100 mark, the expectation of life for men has not increased during the last five years, and stands at 68. The comparative figure for women has shown a improvement of one year to 74 years. Ibis is, however, a tremendous advance on a century ago when comparative figures were 47 and 48 years respectively; in the 18th century average length of life was only 34 years. Going back to the days of Imperial Rome, the death rate in that city was so high that there was little hope of the majority living more than 25 years. Old age has interested man from the earliest days of civilisation. One man, Dr. Maurice Ernest, has collected some 1000 volumes on the subject. Dr. Ernest, a friend of Wells, Einstein, and other eminent figures, founded the Centenarians’ Club. Its high ambition was “To inspire men and women with a desire to 'live on as able-bodied and clear-minded centenarians.” It had members in many parts of the world, although the actual strength of the club was difficult to determine at any given date. As the founder remarked: “Centenarians are a highly fluctuating community.” Dr. Ernest’s study of longevity led him to believe that the biblical estimate of three score years and ten as the term for which man can live Without weariness will probably be doubled before many generations have passed.

That eminent medical man, Sir Arbuthnot Lane, held that the span of life should be 100 years. But he put in this proviso, that to do this we should have to live on uncooked fruit, vegetables and grains, go without clothes and probably live out of doors. We should, of course, touch no alcohol, condiments, or tobacco. Most people would be likely to find this far too Spartan an existence for pleasure; Dr. Julian Besancon, a French physician, wrote a book on “Man’s Days” when he was a vigorous nonagenarian, containing a recipe on how to grow old gracefully—up to the age of 140. He did not believe in faddist rules or hygiene, and asserted that to abstain from coffee, tea, or tobacco does not help. The main thing, he said, was to take a lively interest in as many subjects as possible, and not to waste physical energy.

Dr. Besancon was on the side of the cheerful ones, and it is a fact that the chief problem of reasonable old age is not getting people to achieve it, but to enjoy it. Too often one hears the remark after the death of some veteran: “It was a merciful release.”

An investigation carried out in Birmingham revealed that of 1000 men between the ages of 60 and 70, only 20 per cent, were in good health. Another 38 per cent, had complaints which did not incapacitate them, 29 per cent, were too ill to work, and 13 per cent, were seriously ill.

The chief troubles were chronic bronchitis, high blood pressure, heart disease, peptic ulcer and arthritis. Six per cent, were more or less deaf and 14 per cent, had poor sight. Perhaps Professor J. Z. Young, F.R.S., summed thwa matter up when addressing zoologists of the British Association: “We could probably all live longer and better lives if we know how best to control our stomachs, our hearts, our muscles, and our livers—as well as our brains.” Looking a century into the future. Dr. James Shelby Thomas, a technologist, told the Chicago section of the American Chemical Society that the “perfect man” of the future will be six feet three inches tall, will never grow gray or fat, and will live to be 125 years old. He will owe his development to tremendous strides that will be taken in the medical, chemical, and dietary sciences and in the fields of good living. Long-Lived Clergy As 100 years hence is rather a long time ahead, let us look, a little nearer our own time, and ask: if one wants to live to a ripe old age, what it the best profession to adopt? Clergymen, because they live regular, steady lives, free from excesses, are generally regarded by insurance companies as likely to live as long as and probably longer than members of other professions. Many writers live long into the 80’s, but the figures for the medical profession are nothing so good. Musicians, actors and architects stand about level. Among others with good records are farm bailiffs, bank officials and agricultural labourers.

Surveys among elderly people show there is three times as much disability among unskilled workers as among professional people, possibly because those in the higher-income groups have less exhausting lives and run fewer risks.

Heavy physical labour extended too far into years is certainly not conducive to long life.

On the other hand, people who have “nothing to do” are not to be envied. A man with a regular job between the ages of 25 and 65 can look forward to many more additional years than one with endless time on his hands.

Elderly people who let time hang are on the sure road to senescence. The worst thing anybody can do is to retire unless he or she has some engrossing hobby. [Central Press Features, Ltd., All Rights Reserved.]