Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-11
SAYS HEALTH IS NEGLECTED
Health Commissioner Porter Declares
Death Rate Too High
INSURANCE MEETING NEAR END
Presidents' Session in Chicago Occcu-
pied with Technical Discussions
They Discuss Methods for
Disease Prevention.

CHICAGO, Dec. lO.-Today's session was
expected to terminate the fourth annual
meeting of the Association OF Life Insur-
ance Presidents in session since yesterday
morning at the Hotel La Sale. The pro-
gram for the day was filled with the tech
meal addresses and included report OF
the life extension committee of the associ-
alton.
Prevention OF casualties. care of invest
ments and the aid of the federal census
bureau in furnishing scientific basis for
risk computations were other subjects
scheduled to be discussed.
",rhe decrease in the mortality rate from
typhoid fever and tuberculosis can hardly
be said to be satisfactory said State
Health Commissioner Eugene H. Porter of
New York, in discussing the recent mortal
ity statistics issued by the federal govern
ment. Although the typhoid rate fell from
twenty-five to twenty-five I'm 1903, during
the years 1905 to 1905 there was an increased
urban death rate as compared to the years
1900 to 1904 The returns for tuberculosis
should be much better during the next five
years II the work so bravely and enthusias-
tically begun is continued. The death rate
of pneumonia seems TO be steadily increas-
ing; its ravages approach those OF tubercu-
losls Heart disease cancer, diseases OF
early infancy. 'Brlghts disease and ne
phrits all show increase, nor is the de-
crease in the mortality rate Of scarlet
fever. measles and some other infectious
diseases Of strikingly marked character.
Diseases Neglected.
Let us face the fact that diseases known
as preventable are not now prevented, and
are not likely to be prevented entirely for
many years to come. Let us consider the
fast also that we know enough now to
begin a successful campaign for the ulti-
mate practical prevention OF those diseases.
We have begun a vigorous campaign
against tuberculosis and the results are
beginning to show. An effective campaign
against typhoid would show quicker and
more marked results OF the $500 deaths
from typhoid In 1900. three-fourths az leas,
could have been prevented. While typhoid
It a water-borne disease. it does not ali
come from water Yet it is Instructive 70
see what good supply Of water will DO
Lowell Mass, before filtration, had q
death rate from typhoid Of III per 10000
after filtration, %. Albany, n. Y, before Ill
tration lOl; after. "a. BinghRmptOn n. Y be
fore filtration. 80; after II. Waterfowl
N. Y, before filtration. IS; after 1915. W.
are doing better than that now.
''If the prevention OF disease is to be IN,
Growing glory OF GUS civilization, a cam
paign OF education must be undertaken
The knowledge now possessed by our traine,
sanitarians and expert laboratory work
ers must be carried to every home and read
at every fireside. The relationship OF IN
pOlicyhOlder to his life Insurance companl
Is within definRble limits a peculiarly in
innate one. BY reason OF this Relationship
you are able, whenever you see fit to us
your power, TO exercise a tremendous in
fluence over more than One-half of thi
nation. What you say 20 them on healtl
matters, what you advise regarding IN
prolongauon OF life, viii be attentively re
ceived and seriously weighed / know o
no one single agency IN all the wild fiel,
of sanitary effort so potentially powerful
for public health as your own organiza
ton"
UrEes Preventive Work.
Commissioner Porter suggested the i'm
mediate establishment IN each insuranc
company OF a department o. health 70 IN
struct medical examiners and agents 4
sanitation and preventive disease work. Is
sue health literature 20 policyholders, al
range public health lectures, co-operat
with existing agencies for sanitary RI
forms. provide free denomination O
pOncyholders. etc.
Japan is now fifty years ahead OF IN
United States In the registration OF vita
statistics. although this country has beel