Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-17
Insurance and Longevity
D. AhFHuR RuMFHn.

MAY human Ito IN genaraI be prolonged By utilE-
wi ing the Investigations which the life Insurance
companies make to ascertain which persons
shoud be charged low, ana which hish. retes Of in
surence7 II h tho opinion Of Arthur Hunter, life IN
surance actuary that this is undoubtedly possible
His argument is simple and easily understood II
Insurance statistics show for instance, that Of
alcohol poorer risks than abstaners4hat Il. that
they do earlier the average-t TeauiFas no deep
thought to reach the conclusion that may proong
his life by abstaining This applies 20 all conditions
that be altered at viii; and such conditions form
large part Of ell those with whom insurance Atatls-
dss deal, according to an address delivered BY MT
Hunter al the eighth annual meeting 81 life
presidents In New York. now published IN pamphlet
form
Il have no doubt" says Mr. Hunter that the
knowledge which the life insurance companies have
acquired from their investigations regarding the NOR
tally among their policy holders may be applied by
individuals toward lengthening their own lives; but
the dfflculty arises OF getting such information be-
fore the public In form which can pe EeadiIy under
stood. The Investigations undertaken by the COM
panies primarily intended assist them in de-
termining which types Of persons eoud safely be
cepted for insurance AZ the regular rates OF premium
which tyres ahoid b charged extra premium. and
which should be declined. The purpose Of the prepa-
ration OF these statistics was not TO excite public In
tefes or curiosity. but for actual great bust
ness No haphasard methods have been used but the
most approved and scientific known to aotuaries and
medical directors; their knowledge of mortality d
based upon the actual experience OF companies with
all sorts Rnd conditions men ana women ana natur-
statistcs should frghten you let point Qua that
true progress IN science r. made through record
ing the result Of actual experience experiments
snd that my statistics Will be % this nature They
VIII constitute IN feet, bFisf reeord Of what has
happened TO mankind under certain conditions. sBd
WI not Be diftieult for the iayman TO tOiiow
'Torty-thrae Of the leading life inauTanee aora-
panes In The Uned States and canada agreed IN 1909
70 prepare their collective experiences on many dif.
yeqgRtioa into the hands Of che Actuarial Society Of
America and TIA Association Of Life Insurance Medi-
cal Directors. The companies supplied their records
on about 26o0oo livea. covering period o. twenty
five years II 10 the largest and nost comprehensive
Investigation ever undertaken by Insurance companies
anywhere TIE object Of the Investigation was 70 DE-
termne from past experience the types Of lives among
which the companies had higher mortality than the
average, The results az the Investigation have ap-
peared In four volumes and the flfsh is in press II
has taken the central bureau about three and half
years Of continuous ahor 10 produce the results using
the NEST up-tedata machinery IN the way 81 electric
sorters and taeulatoFN card supplied for each
OF tho pelieea issued from the years 70 ia AMONG
certain types the history OF the person being sivep
such card.
The inquired were divided ipto many CLASSES. Of
which the following are the chief sroups
4. Those who In occupations involving has.
ard.
= These who had family history Of cepsump-
g These who had defect IN their peFsona history.
| reheumatism syphilis etc
These whoss physical condition was not normal
. These whose habits with regard TO eleohoiio
beverages were not Aatiraetory n the past or who
used LIQUOR steadily at the time Of Application for
.: Those who wsre distinctly overweight. or under.
weight