, 1865-12-29

rally. So long, however, as the manage
ment of an office is vigorous and progress
sive, but at the same time wise and watch
ful, the favourable rate of mortality
amongst new entrants may possibly
counterbalance the increased rate among
the older Policy-holders.
The character of the experience thus
shown, although from a comparatively linn
tied sphere of observation, is vet sufici-
ent TO strengthen my long-entertained con-
viction that sanitary improvements, even
if attended with the most favourable results
anticipated by the most sanguine, will at
best only have the effect of increasing the
measure of vitality from youth to some
defined period beyond middle life, and
that the decreased mortality prevailing in
those ages will necessarily be connected,
although not to the same measure, by an
increased mortality at the decline of life.
Of course, even so, it will prove a great
boon to humanity, as a larger average of
vitality would obviously still be contribu-
ted among the entire masses of mankind.
Tive curve of mortality of the seven
,een Offices incidentally indicates to the
eye the outline of this theory, as it will
be observed hat the gain in the earlier
ages is in part counterbalanced by a
larger mortality above the age of 60.
LII point Of fact, this coincidence may not
he merely accidental. The selection of
lives exercised by those offices may pos
slbIy have had the precise effect which
improved sanitary regulations might be
expected to have on the entire communi-
ty, but neither sanitary regulations nor
selection will have influence in extending
Except in isolated instances) the limit of
three score years and ten, or, at the most,
four score years, allotted as the life of
man, and the exemption at early ages
must therefore, in the course of nature.
lead to a larger decrease Of life at the
older ages.
MORTALITY AMONG DECLINED LIVES.
The wish expressed by many Actua-
ries of Assurance Companies that the in
vestigation of declined lives should, if
possible, be continued through the pre-
sent quinquennial period, and the mani
fest advantage the further experience
would give 10 this Office, have led to the
adoption of the most vigorous exertions,
attended with a voluminous', correspond
ence carried on with the representatives
of the Company In all parts of the world,
in order to obtain some record of these
rejected proposers for Assurance.
The result is, that as many as 1914 de-
cIined lives have been distinctly traced,
whilst 467 are, in all probability, for ever
lost sight of. These latter are therefore,
finally excluded from the list, and the
computations now made have reference
solely to the lives known to have termi-
mated by death, or who are still ihdfspu-'
tably within the range of observation.
rs the Table No. 8. (page 49, can be
referred to by the diligent inquirer into
this particular subject, it will be sufficient
to point out, by one or two varied illus
trations, the excessive mortality still
traceable among these declined lives when
compared with the mortality among our
accepted lives.
At age IS, one out of one hundred and
t,centy-one of accepted assurers died whilst
one out Of torty-seUen of the rejected died.
In the same way, at age 40, one out of
thirty-sir of the latter, and only one out of
one hundred and Mity-thres of the former,
died.
II, taking the same intervals Of ages az
in the comparison Of the unadjusted and