New-York tribune., 1909-02-06
PUT MONEY IN HEALTH
IRVING FISHERS ADVICE.
Tells Insurance Companies Of Profit
able TnTestmeut.

Asserting that a scientific calculation recently
made by him shows that the adoption OF hygienc re-
forms already known and entirely practicable would
result in lengthening human life in America by one
third. fifteen years. DR.. Irving Fisher, of
Yale University, head of the committee OF one hun
dred national health. suggests that 1t would be a
most profitable for insurance companies
10 appropriate funds for the promotion Of public
health.
This suggestion was made at meeting of the
Association OF Life Insurance Presidents in the
Metropolitan Building yesterday afternoon. This
meeting was attended by aetuaries, medical dlrec-
tors and executive officers Of many insurance COM
panies, some OF whom took occasion 10 indorse pub
licy the ideas of DR.. Fisher. DR.. Woods Hutchin-
son. speaking for the medical profession in general
declared its members had assisted in decreasing the
death rate 80 per in forty years. and that the
companies which still selling life insurance on
mortality tables OF twenty years ago owed the pub
lie dividend the work already performed by
others.
Life Insurance. Company. said his company would
save 81 00O. 900 year by the elimination OF pre-
ventable diseases and stood ready to appropriate
100000 TO that end He expressed the opinion.
however that such expenditure could not De
made under the Insurance laws OF this state. On
his motion the proposition advanced by DIR. Fisher
was referred TO committee 70 hs appointed by
Robert Lynn Cox manager OF the association, TO
consider the with special reference to its legal
phase
Dr. Fisher said among other things:
The insurance men whom have consulted as 70
whether It would pay ~ fH yds a ss 9
In their belief that The step would be a profitable
arises why have insurance companies never at
tempted II before? 1t seemed too large task for
country. There seemed way TO prolong the lives
OF its own policyholders alone. so long as unsani-
tary conditions prevailed throughout the conInuIH
ties in which these policyholders lived. and there
seemed no way OF bringing lhe NE IF sens now
however. that the time has arrived when all three
of these objections can be removed.
After saying that in his tables tuberculosis was
shown to be rs per cent preventable. pneumonia IS
per cent typhoid IS per cent and diphtheria 10 per
cent, DR. Fisher added
On the basis of these ratios OF preventability. or
rather postponibility of death. has been computed
the nossible extension OF the average human life
by saving lives now lost by preventahe diseases
those thus saved from death enjo' as their new
lease of life only the expectation Of life now be-
is very conservative. for 1t means that lives once
saved shall receive further benefits from inn
proved mortality, but shall die or at the old rates
Of mortality.
Eight years of the fifteen which might he added
human lie could achieved by the obtaining OF
pure air water and milk. Or. Fisher said Two
years more could be added by the elimination or
preventabe tuberculosis. He said
According TO the plans which have in mind.
the money which the life insurance companies
would invest II lifesavng would not h in hosp-
tails sanatoria but in the education OF the public
and especially their policyhoders. in health mat
and the joining in every legitimate way 10 i'm
prove the public health Offices and services in the
municipalities states and the federal government.
Just mrs insurance companies endeavor TO secure
in municipalities adequate hre protection, life
insurance companies might properly endeavor 10
adequate municipal health protection, and
they might lEevSs bring their influence 20 bear to
secure the passage of model health laws by our
states in respect to slaughter houses. pure food
and other health reforms
Or, Fisher then suggested that the best way for
the insurance companies to contribute funds for
the improve ement Of public health To do il
through the Committee of one Hundred Ma
tional Health, which is in position to accomplish
large results. He gave outline of what the
nittee had done in the two years Of it's existence.
Among thoss who spoke in favor of the plan were
Health Commissioner Darlington and Lee K.
Fraakel. formerly OF the Sage Foundation.