Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-02
WHAT KEEPS DOCTORS BUSY
Vast sums that Could he Saved by
Conservation of Human
Health.

Tho total number OF needless or rather
premature deaths in the United States in
a year is estimated at $50 600. This figure
was cited by Prof. Irving Fisher of Yale
in a paper read before the International
Association of Accident Underwriters at
Breton Woods, N. II.
IF we accept Fairs conclusion that cor
responding to each death there was an
average sickness of two years, there are
probably constantly Ill in the United States
about 100000 persons, OF whom 10000 are
consnmptives," said Prof Fisher. THE
best authorities agree that at fsast half
this Illness is needless. We have, then
abundant evidence that a vast amount Of
unapplied scientific knowledge capable
when applied, of greatly reducing the num-
Der of victims Of disease and death.
This knowledge has come suddenly, most
of it within a generation, since the epoch
making work of Pasteur. Lister, Koch. Won
Behring, Metchnikoff. Chittenden and many
others. The modern laboratory is manu-
featuring knowledge faster than it is being
applied. Moreover. the rate of increase in
hygienic knowledge will doubtless increase
rather than diminish in the future. This is
the situation OF which insurance companies
can now take advantage.
Since life and health insurance companies
have to deal with disability and deaths as
questions of dollars and cents, l may add a
few words as to the financial side of the
question.
DIR. Farr has estimated the net economic
value of an English agricultural laborer al
various times OF life by dscounting his
chance of future earnings after subtra citing
the cost of maintenance. On the basis of
tables In my report on national vitality. II
is estimated that the average value Of the
lives now sacrificed by preventabIe deaths
is at least $1,7O0. Since the number of pre-.
ventable deaths is estimated at $4,000, the
annual waste from preventable deaths 1.
$4,000 times H.7Oo or about $1,000, 900 900
This represents the annual preventable loss
Of potential earnings.
we saw there were always 100000 per
sons in the United States on the sick list
of whom about 100000 are in the workins
period of life and about three-quarters &C
tually are workers and must lose at leas
$780, which makes the aggregate loss from
! illness more than $4,000 900 Adding Z,
this another SOO,O0OOOO as the expense o
medicines, medical attendance, specia
foods, etc, we find the total cost OF illness
TO be about 81, 900 10000 per year, OF which
II is assumed that at least one-half is pre-
ventable.
Adding the preventable loss from death
1000 OOO,OOO, to the preventable loss from i'll
ness, 100000 We find 81, 800 O0O, 900 as tn
lowest at which we can estimate the pre-
ventable loss from disease and death 4
this country. The true figures may we
amount to several times this figure, bu
when statistics are based partially on con
lecture, they need to be stated with es
pecal caution.
The cost Of conservation often is triflln
in comparison with the saving attained
For instance, the hook worm disease in tn
south impairs the earning power of IL
workmen by % or 30 per cent. To restor
this earning power costs, by curing III
disease, ON an average, less than 81 70
each case.
Other examples show that the retur
on investments I'm health are often sewers
r thousand per cent per annum. Probably n
such unexpected opportunity for rich r,
turns exists in any other field OF inyes
? ment. Mr.. Messenger. the actuary. su,
gests that II insurance companies Shout
combine TO contribute 500 600 a year for N
purpose Of improving the public health, n
, cost would be y OF 1 per cent OF n
. premiums, and IL would be reasonable
expect decrease I'm death claims Of rnuc
more than per cent. Even this 1 per eel
would make profit Of more than seve
times the expense.'-Chicago Tribune