DRINK AND LONGEVITY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1092, 9 February 1911, Page 22

DRINK AND LONGEVITY.

In a recent volume entitled “The Prolongation of Human Life,” Dr. Metchnikoff, one of the greatest physicians of Europe, has collated some interesting facts concerning old persons whose habit it was to drink to excess. Catherine Raymond drank vast quantities of pure wine daily from young womanhood until she died at the age of 127 years. Politiman, famous as one of the oldest of men, was an eminent surgeon who lived for 140 years—l6Bs until 1825. He was drunk every night for eighty years, his habit being to become intoxicated at the close of his day’s work among his patients. Gascogne, a butcher of Frie (Hau-tes-Pyrenes), died in 17 67 at the age of 12 0 years. He was drunk regularIv twice a week. ’ Brawn, a famous Irish landowner, died at the age of 120 years. He was seldom sober and was roaring drunk twice each week. There was a saying in his parish that death was afraid of Brawn when in his cups. Many communities of heavy drinkers —especially wine drinkers —have been noted for their long-ilved persons —not a few, but scores of them. Cote-d’Or, a village of the old province of Burgundy, had, in 1897, 523 inhabitants. Twenty were past eighty years of age and many were old men. and women in good health. All had been heavy drinkers from early years and were at the time. Many smoked to excess and were also heavy coffee drinkers. Metchnikoff’s book ranks high as, a scientific contribution to the subject of longevity. The foregoingstatements may seem remarkable, but the name of Metchnikoff puts them above the class of irresponsible assertions.