Spirit Of The Times

From the "Art of Prolonging Life," in Press
Duration of Human Life

It is commonly believed that during the early periods of the world, the lives of its inhabitants were more youthful and perfect, that these primitive men had a gigantic size, incredible strength and a most astonishing duration of life! A variety of such notions were long prevalent among mankind, and to these we are indebted for the origin of many romantic tales. Some have not hesitated seriously to ascribe to our forefather Adam the height of nine hundred yards, and the age of almost a thousand years. But the accurate and rational investigation of modern philosophy has converted the supposed bones of giants, found in different parts of the earth into those of the elephant and rhinoceros; and acute theologians have shown the chronology of the early ages was not the same as that used at present.

Some—particularly Hensler, have proved, with the highest probability, that to the time of Abraham, the year consisted of only three months; that it was afterwards extended to eight; and that it was not until the time of Joseph that it was made to consist of twelve. These assertions are, in a certain degree, confirmed by some of the Eastern nations, who still reckon only three months to the year; and, besides, it would be altogether inexplicable why the life of man should have shortened immediately after the flood. And be equally inexplicable why the patriarchs did not marry till their sixtieth, seventieth or even eightieth year; and consequently, the same period at which people marry at present.

The whole, therefore, according to this explanation, assumes a different appearance. The sixteen hundred years before the flood will become four hundred and fourteen; and the nine hundred years, (the highest recorded) which Methuselah lived, will be reduced to two hundred, an age which is not impossible, and to which some men in modern times have nearly approached.

In profane history, we have no account of many heroes, and Arcadian kings, of those periods, who attained to the age of several hundred years; but these pretended instances of longevity can be explained in the same manner.