The Washington times., 1909-10-21
Is Increasing Rapidly, Ac-
cording to Prof. Fisher,
of Yale.
NORMAL MAN SHOULD
LIVE FOR $50 YEARS
Remarkable Study of Subject Is
Issued by National ConseTva-
ton Commission
BY J. c. WELLIvER.

Human life is iucrea sing IN length al
q very rapid rate. but the span viii
have 10 go on increasing for Ions
time before il becomes even normal, for
the human being ought TO live TO about
10 years, il he did himself Justice
Thus opntes Prof. Irving Fisher OF
Just been issued by the National Con
just been issued by the National Son
servation Commission. The conserve
ton commission does not concede that
its business is confined to the salvation
OF forests. the growing of more wheat
per acre, the prevention of monopoly in
water power, and the outstanding Of coal
resources. Rather, il finds that the
greatest asset OF society is human 'life-
The conclusion seems plausible. in view
OF the fact that society would have nc
existence and TO concern about water
power, coal. trees, and The price of
wheat. If the people weren't here.
Prof. Fishers little hook Of 129 pages
is Of the greatest interest. From a
most careful study Of vitality and
health statistics he concludes that about
500 wears ago the average span of hui
man life began TO increase. and II has
been gaining ever since. mere Is no
more popular fallacy than The idea Iiat
people don't live so long as they used
TO do. The fact is that they live much
longer than they ever did before, az
least in any era Of which there is rec
ord.
Span Increases.
At the end of the seventeenth century
the average lie was about TOUR years
longer than at its beginning At the
end Of the eighteenth. another four
years had been added to the average
Then came the pineteenrh, with its great
4 ll4-f1r7 -rff=
During the first thTee-ouarteIs OF that
century IL Is found that the average
length Of life increased at the rate OF
apoUt nine years 20 the century.
>fiut that does not tell the most re-
uarkable chapter of The story Of in
creasinE longevity. During the last gen
f1an ever before. Thus iu MaSsachu-
sets the sverage length OF human lie
is now increasing at the rate OF about
fourteen years per century. That IS,
III tile present progress continues, cen
tury hence the average person IN Mass
aclusetts viii live fourteen years long
or than he does now. Y eI MdSsaCnu-
sets IS no. makluE so good record
where the present increase is at the
rate of seventeen years in q century.
10 medical, surgical, and hygienic sci
cnce is increasing its average longevity
at the rate OF tWenty-seven years per
century.
Indis's Average.
What such an increase OF human life
would mean, may be judged from the
fact that the average life in India is
nov only twenty-five years. and il is
stationary. India represents the stage
Of civilization at which the benefits OF
science. medicine. surgery. and saui-
tatlon arc still denied TO the people in
general Thus Germany. in a century
of continued lenEtheuinE OF the span
Of life az the present rate would ac-
tuaIIV add more to the length OF life
than the avers &c for all India.
Whether 81 viii be possible 10 con-
tinue such a rate of progress indefinite
lE may we'll be doubted. If Prof. Fisher
ie correct iu his analysis. fIe sets IF
teen wears as a minimum probable adj
diyion; but he makes clear his belief
that this IS a very conservative min
imum, and that 'uTtheT discovering In
medicine and sgEery, the prevention
- violent death. the Improvement Of
conditions surrounding marriage, and
particularly the bctteImeHL OF sanitary
conditions, may add vastly more then
This conservative minimum 10 Inei aV-
erage life.
indeed. Prof Fisher quotes the re-
suit OF MetchuikO0 s investiga tons, TO
sustain the contention that n normal
age Tor men should be about $50 years
MrtchnikOn found that mammal gen
orally lived about five times the peri
od devoted to growing The one eE-
ceptiou is man. The growing period
for man is about thirty years there
fore If he should leEstacu MS life up
20 the average OF other mammals. H.
would br about 15H years. Prof. Fisher
doc not believe that $50 years is by
aHy means aH Impossible attainment.
whom the uneXplored possibilities Or
science. sanitation. and social better
ment arc developed
Average Age.
The present average age at which
people die OF old age after having been
fortunate enough TO dodge automobiles.
diDhtherla, tuberculosis. hunger and
the other causes which now take away
most people ar untimeIy periods. is
stated eichty-threc Years. But
Metchnikon decided that this was not
even a normal period FOR old age.
proper conditions OF life should adj
vance it greatly; and this conclusion
L. unhesiiatinGly accepted by Prof
Fisher
verE, great ages, Drakenbere. a Nor
sgeEisu, who died at 1f5. and Mrs. Mary
T. Wood. Of Portland Ore, arc ac-
ceuted thoroughly authenticated
prof Fisher raises the interesting
query whether these are 10 be regard
cd ae abnormal cases or whether iu
fact they are the demonstration or the
possibility % normal at some such
age. EIg q lLDtf tlttl the resi- OF me
race IS dying AT abnoTmaily early per
tgdS
Tho economic value Of human life.
She advantage to the social whole iu in
greaSiug its length, is discussed most
eufertainiHeIv by Prof Fisher Tie
points ont that the burden OF sustain
ing youth and old &c is tremendous
"uus ou the producing capacity of So
cfety As civilization becomes more
complex. a longer period must De given
10 preparation foF ih" real work
The years 81 infancy. schooling. col
lege-gOing. and technical training tend
to demand more and more time. Con-
sequeutlV. there IS need Tor COmDeu-
satiug length OF tine period within
which the individual. having thus been
prepared at the social expense may
work for society in order 30 repay its
investment in him. With society giving
more and more time 40 the preparation
~ its members for work. and after thc