On Comparative Longevity in Man and the Lower Animals

Read by Stacey Malcolm, Cbteddy, Olga Geiling, KevinS, Azza, Jesse L., Jason Anderson, czandra, Amy Gramour, Availle, Wayne Hom

A prize was recently offered in the University of Oxford for an Essay on Longevity, and was awarded to the little treatise now published. In the following pages the scope proposed in the subject given for the essay, viz. ‘The Comparative Longevity of different species of lower Animals and the Longevity of Man in different states of Civilization,' has been adhered to. The subject does not admit of very satisfactory treatment from a scientific point of view, and is accordingly one which probably few persons would have selected to write upon, unless under special circumstances, such as were present in this case. At the same time, Longevity is a subject of great popularity, and hence the facts and arguments herein set forth may, it is hoped, interest the public. One result which I hope to attain, by the favor of those who may read my pages, is the accumulation of an increased number of really trustworthy facts bearing on the questions raised. I venture to beg all those who have it in their power to communicate such facts to me, to do so. - Summary by Edwin Ray Lankester

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queue_music Chapters 23

1 00 - Preface 1:47
2 01 - Introductory 2:44
3 02 - Writers on Longevity, and general Sources of Information 21:35
4 03 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 3. Longevity defined 6:49
5 04 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 4. The various kinds of Longevity 18:43
6 05 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 5. Inherent Death 29:43
7 06 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 6. Elements of the life Period 3:08
8 07 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 7. High Individuation favours Longevity 2:07
9 08 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 8. Small Expenditure favours Longevity 4:34
10 09 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 9. Why Longevity is thus influenced 8:07
11 10 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 10. -part 1. Inductive 21:27
12 11 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 10. -part 2. Inductive 33:52
13 12 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 11. Other Relations of Longevity 8:41
14 13 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 12. Some Experimental Evidence 5:42
15 14 - A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 13. Summary 1:48
16 15 - B. The Longevity of Man. 14. Preliminary 16:10
17 16 - B. The Longevity of Man. 15. Sources of Information as to Human Longevity 13:22
18 17 - B. The Longevity of Man. 16. Statements as to the Duration of Human life 30:23
19 18 - B. The Longevity of Man. 17. General Conclusions from the foregoing Statements and Tables 4:16
20 19 - B. The Longevity of Man. 18. Interpretation by the Law 8:47
21 20 - B. The Longevity of Man. 19. Duration of Life in past Time 3:16
22 21 - B. The Longevity of Man. 20. The Influence of various States of Civilization 4:20
23 22 - B. The Longevity of Man. 21. Abnormal Longevity in Man 11:28