Modern Methuselahs, or, Short biographical sketches of a few advanced nonagenarians or actual centenarians who were distinguished in art, science, literature, or philanthropy. Also, brief notices of some individuals remarkable chiefly for their longevity / By John Burn Bailey. With an introductory chapter on "long-lasting".

  • Bailey, John Burn.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Modern Methuselahs, or, Short biographical sketches of a few advanced nonagenarians or actual centenarians who were distinguished in art, science, literature, or philanthropy. Also, brief notices of some individuals remarkable chiefly for their longevity / By John Burn Bailey. With an introductory chapter on "long-lasting". Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    58/520 (page 42)
    Roger Bacon prepared an elixir of gold, coral, vipers, rosemary, lignum aloes, and some other mysterious in- gredients which, must have made a beverage more likely to destroy life than to prolong it indefinitely. His distinguished namesake believed in the virtue of opiates and nitre. Elias Ashmole, a doctor of physic of Oxford, and founder of the Ashmolean ]\luseum in that citv, states that havinor the ao;ue, I took early in the morning a good dose of elixir, and hung three spiders about my neck, and they drove my ague away! Confections of various kinds have been invented, but, like the Friar's just named, they savour strongly of the age of alchemy, astrology, and witchcraft. Only those who retain a faith in these worn-out delusions could place confidence in such nostrums. An elixir of his own discovery is said to have kept Dr. Jermitz in good mental and bodily preservation unto his one hundred and fourth year. Simple bread and water did as much for St. Anthony. Many more modern theories as to how old age may be retarded, or rejuvenescence efi'ected, have been given to the world. Among them is the assurance that constant association with the young has magic power, and is of still greater efficacy if the breath of children be constantly inhaled by the aged; it serves as fuel to revive their dying embers. The transference of the blood of the young to the veins of the worn-out, would work still more potent wonders. Be this as it may, George Macdonald's words are worthy of regard : When we are out