Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-24
CASH VALUE OF A MAN.
Boston Physicians Estimates II For
Various ACES.

A Boston dispatch to the New York
Herald says: Reaffirming the theory Of
DR.. Osler regarding mans value ac-
cording to his age, DR.. Erastus Holt of
Portland, Me-, today at the ophthal-
mology session Of the American asso-
citation, in an elaborate paper on
Physical Economics" contended that
the economic value Of laboring man
decreases after his twenty-fifth year
and that the value of a professional
Holt presented elaborate tables show
ing that a mans value in money can
actually be determined by taking into
consideration his occupation and age.
DR.. Holt is an authority on the top
ic, having worked out a theory which
changed the methods used in the Pen
sion Bureau for determining the
amount of a mans pension according
to his disability. He was in an acci-
dent one time himself and says that
he had nothing to do but think for six
months, and that he worked out this
theory during all the time, and has
amplified it great deal since.
In his table showing the value Of In
dividuals Of the American laboring
class that at ten years Of age, on
81 per cent discount basis, boy Is
worth $2,O61.62; at fifteen years Of age
he is worth $4,26366; at twenty-five
he Is worth $5,48S.O3; and from that
time on his value decreases, until at
seventy he is worth but $17.13, and at
eighty years of age he is drawback
on the community to the extent Of
$S72.84.
The professional man at twenty-five
years of age has an economic value OF
$25,S9S94, and his highest value Is at
forty years of age, when he is worth
$29,3446S.
DR.. Holt says that all damages to
person should be assessed by a jury In
systematic manner, and not in hap
hazard way, as it is done at present.
The tables which he has used in de-
termining the value Of a man are TAX
en- from those of the famous DR.. Farr,
but he has amplified these tables In
such a way that he can determine the
percentage of loss due to specific ac-
cident, such as the loss of an eye, a
leg, or an arm, or any diminution of
the persons value short Of total disa-
bility. He advocates the plan of hav-
ing every man and woman procure for
himself and herself an economic rat
ing, which he explains as follows:
There is nothing of more import
ance to be instituted in the science
and practice Of medicine than the
carefully made records Of physical and
laboratory examinations of every per-
son. They should be instituted when
the child enters school and be repeat
ed at stated times during the whole
period of school life. new school
officer would be necessary, who would
analyze a child, detect all abnormali-
ties and aid in correcting them dur
ing school life, and thus have the body
improved with the mind. From these
records data could be obtained which
would give the rating of the child, taxi
ing into consideration his functional
ability, on which his technical ability
so largely depends. With this work
carried out during school life it would
soon demonstrate its own importance
by making these records of the high
est value in the training OF the mind
and body, the promotion Of health, the
prevention of disease and the advance
ment Of the race"