Longevity. The Romans lived longer than ancient peoples before them and, for that matter, medieval peoples who lived after them. When one studies Roman medicine, no matter however sympathetically, one cannot conclude that the reason for an extended life was because of medical intervention. Skeletal evidence of people buried in ancient cemeteries, as well as other evidence, indicates that the average life span for Romans may have peaked at about forty-seven years, a figure not reached again until modern times. Medicine not being the reason, speculation focuses on nutrition and public health. Probably the greatest single factor is one already described: good water. Some medical historians regard good water and nutrition as the primary factors for longevity in both ancient and modern periods. Even in the last century, the practice of medicine did not appreciably affect gross demographic statistics nearly as...