The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-12
American system of Life Insural

Something is being said in the public
prints about the new American system
of Life Insurance, which has been
originated and putin successful oper-
alton by the American Popular Life
Insurance Company. Comparatively
few persons as yet understand the
method they employ in CHASING their
risks" or realize the wide distinctions
that it is possible to make among So
called "sound lives" and the advan-
tages to be gained by the insured un-
der such classifications.
\ glance at the Storm of application"
required by this Company, will per-
| haps be interesting and instructive.
| This "applicatiou" Is composed of two
parts, viz: The personal statement of
| The applicant, and second, the disiuter-
ested testimony of third parties, among
whom is the '.examining physician"
appointed by the Company. The first
part includes q physiological descrip-
| lion of the person; his past and present
| residence, vocation, and habits, every
thing, in fact, affecting directly or indi-
rectly his constitution, or capabilities
| OF living; then succeeds n complete
family record" indicating the physi-
cal capacity and longevity OF all those
TO whose physical and mental peculiar
tiles he is heir.
Like begets like" and an insurance
company has no right TO calculate upon
the longevity of class OF men as be-
| ing greater than the average of its an
| cestorS.
Constitutionally short-lIved parents
cannot beget long-lived children; these
are common sense facts that the public
are prompt to recognize. 1t may be
| incidentally remarked in this coDnec-
tion, that the distinguished Prof. Fara-
! day has written ably in support of this
opinion, entertained by himself and
| others.
The statistics in the hands of this
company, and the two thousand and
odd 'family records" now in its pos
| session, give unanswerable proof that
long life runs in some families, and
short, although for the time being quite
as healthy y life "runs" in others.
The second part of the application"
gives, through the certificate of the
"Medical Examiner" full testimony in
regard to the applicants organic or pa
biological conditions; his physical, and
ii it may be 30 expressed, mechanical
capacity.
The Yeracity of his personal state
| ments are also vouched for by his next
friend and family physician.
ErdmpIe.-In order TO bring out the
above points with greater clearness and
force, the family records, &c, of two
individuals of the same age have been
selected, who have been pronounced
organically sound by competent medi-
cal examinations.
Read them carefully-they are fair
representatives OF two common classes.
Note the wide difference of risk, then
answer the question. Can an tntelli'
gent company afford TO ignore such
striking factsT Can an intelligent pub
lie afford to insure with them If they
do?
JOHN DoE-AGE 80.
Height, feet.
Weight, 40 lbs.
Expansion OF chest, ~ inches.
Hair dark. Beard sandy.
Complexion pallid. Features small.
Teeth unsound.
Vocation, painter. Unmarried.
Has lived in New Jersey and Louisiana.
Is now in sound health.
Has had the diseases incident to child
hood.
Also dysentery, occasional liver dis
ease, and
Bronchitis. Never injured by vio-
lence.
Has been vaccinated.
Habits correct.
Habits OF bathing, rising and retiring,
and meals, irregular.
Grandfather dead ut 90,
dropsy, P,,srDsI
Grandmother dead SO, N''
heart disease.
Grandfather dead at SO,
cause unknown. NT.t.-rol
grandmother dead at g., Nu"'"' ""''
general debility.
Father dead at so. fever.
Mother living at 90, health fair.
UncIes, one living at 55,
health good; one dead
at l6, typhoid fever.
Aunts, one living at As, PaternRl.
Health feeble; 2 dead
at % and SO, consump-
ton.
Uncles, none.
Aunts, one living at 81, Jstarnol
health good; one dead,
SO, heart disease.
RICHARD RoB-Age 80.
Height, feet.
Weight, l70 TBS.
Expansion of chest, az inches.
Hair and beard, dark and thick.
Complexion dark, features large.
Teeth sound.
Vocation, carpenter. Married.
Has lived only in Putnam Co., N. Y.
Is now in perfect health.
Has had the diseases incident to child
hood, No others. No injury.
Has been vaCcinated.
Habits correct and temperate, and have
always been.
Habits of bathing, rising and retiring,
and meals, regular.
Paternal Grandfather dead at 30.
Grandmother dead at 81.
Maternal Grandfather dead at 80.
Grandmother dead at IS.
Father living, 76, good health.
Mother living, n, health fair.
CUncles, one died at 20. Two
Paternal living, 6s and ~, health
good.
Auntsr all living, 65 and "a,
health fair.
Maternal Uncles, two dead, 90 and so.
Aunts, one living, 65, health
vigorous.
Now here are two cases that the old
companies operating on the European