Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-08-21

Science has in the last half century
heightened the early part Of life of a
human being by three and half years.
Man has shortened the latter part of
his life by his tremendous struggle for
wealth, position and amusement by two
and a half years.
The great gain that has been made
by the increase of exact scientific
knowledge, the triumphs Of surgery
and medicine. the advance in santa
tion-the work Of hundreds Of years
Is almost offset by the feverish pace
that Is made SO vital part Of mod
ern civilization.
And science Is gaining upon the
foolish individuals that are burning
themselves up, for the average length
of life is gradually increasing.
Each year the chances Of the new.
born child for reaching maturity are
greater. And IL so many people did
not wear themselves out needlessly.
sacrificing themselves, from scien-
the point OF view, and die soon after
passing 60, the average longevity
would be greater than it is.
The most marked increase has been
In the last ten years. In 1890 the av.
erage length Of life in the United States
was 81 years. Now 1t is 81 years.
This Is an indlsputable fact, based
upon life insurance statistics. They
are cold-blooded things, these life sta
tistics II 1t were necessary, the ex-
perts in figures would figure out to a
day when man should die.
Robert Hunter. actuary Of the New
York Life Insurance Company, Is one
or those experts, one of those men
who can work romance out Of fig
ures.
insurance statistics regarding lon
gevity are misleading to those who
do not understand them" he explained
the other day. They show a greater
Increase in the length Of human life
than the facts warrant. Conditions
have changed enormously.
Thirty years ago it was at once
easier and more difficult for a man to
get insurance. There was practically
no medical examination. An appli-
cant merely appeared before a board
or directors or an examining board
with no scientific knowledge, and il
he looked to be good risk he was ac-
cepted; II not, he was rejected.
"A sufferer from fatal disease does
not always wear the announcement of
fact on his face, and many bad risk
was taken. Nowadays the examination
Is as severe as it can be.
1T Is evident how this change In
conditions affects longevity tables.
The Increase shown by those prepared
by the insurance companies is due
largely to the strict medical examina-
ton that Is now made condition of
issuing a policy.
"On the other hand. a policy Is now
never refused to anyone unless it is
pretty certain that death Is matter
are made to fit the case. Usually the
insured has to live certain number
Of years in order to get the full
amount.
"The saving in child life in the last
half century has been most remark
able. Nowadays babe has many
more chances Of living than one born
fifty years ago. There are no very re-
cent statistics on the matter because
the facts collected In 1900 have not
| of nd koh Inf
The last authentic ones are Brit
ish-they are much further advanced
in the science Of vital statistics over
there than we are In this country.
From 1888 until 1890 the average child
had just three and half years added
to his life.
This lengthening Of human life is
due to the greater medical knowledge
and scientific skill and to the i'm
proved sanitation. This Is shown by
the fact that between the ages Of %
and 60 there has been no improvement
to speak of-the gain being two
months in 80 years. After 60 the NOR
tality has been increasing. but it does
not equal the gain made under Is.
Consumption still continues the
greatest enemy Of the human race, but
it Is decreasing, showing that science
is getting the mastery over the white
death. Each year shows a smaller per-
centage of deaths from it. In 1873 II
per cent Of the total number Of deaths
were due to consumption. Now only
IL per cent die of it.
But. while the deaths from con-
sumption have been fewer, those from
pneumonia. heart disease and cancer
are growing. These four are the dead
Hest of all maladies."
One Of the most interesting things
in connection with vital statistics is
the close connection between occupa-
tons and longevity. For these statis-
tics we must again go to Great Britain.
where they have been kept with great
eXactness for centuries.
This table shows the number of
deaths in thousand Of persons en-
gagged in the various occupations The
ages of the persons are given for pur.
poses Of comparisons
Ages % - IL - g.