CHICKENS, MICE AND MEN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29994, 1 December 1962, Page 10

CHICKENS, MICE AND MEN

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In some Journal or other I was reading just lately Somebody’d written about human life, its Brevity, That is, and about the Prolongation so greatly To be desired, and what Science can do to promote Longevity.

The Body Chemistry of Chickens (it had been found) Can be changed to make more Birds grow faster and fatter: Otherwise America wouldn’t have enough to go round. But That’s not, Oh dear NO, Sir, the End of the Matter.

The Scientists reversed the Experiment Couldn’t they STOP The Chickens growing? Their Researches grew bolder. The Chickens stopped growing all right but they didn’t drop Dead or Anything, they just DIDN’T GROW ANY

I know! (said the Boss of the Lab.) Let’s try it on Mice!

They tried it on Mice, and the Mice stopped growing too. They didn’t age, they went on living, only twice As lonjj as a Mouse (in the natural Course) would

Get it Sir? These fortunate Creatures were made to remain Steady at the Stage of Growth where the Scientists acted. When the Scientists tinkered their Glands back to Normal again They grew old but their Lives by just SO much had been protracted.

And so from Mice to Men? Sir, which is the Age You’d prefer to remain at, a middle-aged Peter Pan? Thirty-five? Forty-five? Fifty? Which is the Stage You’d fancy to stop at? How long would you like your Span?

Embarrassing Questions? But wouldn’t it be an amazing Gift of Science, if Science had it to give! Though there’s one other Question I hope you’ll excuse me for raising If we All stop dying, where on Earth are we all going to live?