New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-10

II ia supposed that the bill which recently passed
To its third reading in the Assembly, providing
that life insurance companies shall not lnterpoSs
fraud in procuring policy as defense against the
claim of the policy-holder after three annual pay
ments have been made win make those institutions
more careful in taking risks. During the discussion
upon the bill some remarks of members plainly indl-
Gated such result "You can't find out everything
necessary about every mans family and constltu-
ton before he gets out his policy" exclaimed an OPP
ponent of the measure. To which the significant
reply was, yet you manage to ind out sn
about it afte- be is dead Why not find it out before
he gets the policy' Some glimpse Of what this moro
thorough examination will be is afforded in COM
munication to The Medical Record, in which
the writer enumerates and illustrates the value
of the tests of vital condition which science now
enables the examining physician to apply II IS
but glimpse, however, for the editor of even that
technical publication finds the description too strong
for the susceptibities Of his presumably PROBES
sional readers and deprecatingly says, in paren'
thesis that balks curiosity: Here is no room for
the description Of both series, stethoscope pexm-
eter; thermometers dyuamOgraph etc. nor OF their
modes of operation, or their scientific import" But
enough is given to show that after all the ordinary
questions have been asked after the unhappy appi-
cant has admitted his inexeusable foTgetfulness S
to how many of his sisters and brothers died In their
infancy before he was bonn; has hszarded siaV-
ment as to which side Of bis paternal grandfather
was first struck with paralysis and whether the Old
gentleman on his mothers side had rheumatism or
govt and more particularly as TO the complaint IN
her last moments Of maiden aunt who was
always taking medicine; has been " stood up
against post and measured lengthwise, and chest
wise, and otherwise, and has been raped ana
tapped and had doctors head, ears and all thrust
into his bosom-wby, bless you! tine insurance com
pany have MT half done with him. In no case or
place have they introduced the use Of the method
and instruments of posidre diagnosis recently con-
trived to record fundamentally graphically tho
signs of vitality and so admirably adapted to test
those of longevity. By means Of the thermome-
ter we can diagnose tuberculosis and differentiation
long before the physical signs and symptoms are SUI
fcient To Justify such diagnosis. And what II more
pathognomonic of paralysis, for instance, than
progressive difference in the cOntractlty OF tactic
sensibility of both sides as automatically demon
strated by dynamomotry and GsthosometryF
What, indeed And he must therefore, be tltillated
and twisted and have an Opthamoscope applied 70
his eyebas and laryngoscope poked down Ms
throat before he can present his wife with the Vda
BILE certificate against which, after three years s
fraudulent representations cannot be alleged w
doubt this will secure safe risks. But If their SAFETY
has been thus demonstrated why should they De In
suredf If the applicant is sure to live out the ave
age expectation of his age the premiums he nus'
ultimately pay, with the interest 10 be- got from any
savings bank, would amount to more than the sum
insured. Hence, after undergoing the examination
if reported sound the sensible applicant will pIu-
IDENTIFY decline TO take the policy. As for accdehs,
he can If he chooses, insure against them iOi vi
money in other than life insurance companies an"
without il is said another examination"