Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-18
Another Preparedness"


Here is. a new preparedness to con-
slider. 1t IL more directly vital to ev-
ery reader than is any other now up
for public discussion. 1t is offered by
E. E. Rittenhouse Of one Of the largest
life insurance companies who estimates
that of the 100000 Americans annually
examined for life insurance. 100000 are
rejected. He urges the physical pre-
paredness Of the people Of this country
He said, at the association Of life in
surance presidents in New York,
Thursday:
THE composite physical American
looks smooth, pink and healthy. He is
a good liver Il said is, not has). He
hurries. He has no time to waste.
Tho average age at death of the Amer
lean people is about 49, the medium
age, 4s. He is trying, with the aid OF
new knowledge and inventions, to
crowd the experiences of two life
times into one. He is having some sue
cess but the strain is telling on him.
His digestive organs have been
given 80 many new and arduous duties
to which they were not trained that
they are showing signs Of rebellion
He is seriously overstraining his heart,
arteries, kidneys, nerves and digestion
as their rapidly increasing death rate
shows He could detect and head off
these troubles If he would go to his
einno1 no}na tim
He is more than well-rounded at the
belt and slightly SO at the shoulders.
Under exertion he is short-Winded, due
to lack Of exercise or bad heart. His
100 muscles are virtually all soft and
weak from lack Of use. He is designed
as an erect. outdoor animal with feet
and legs for service. but he lies down
by night and sits down by day. He
never walks when he can ride. He
scurries around at his work, gets tired
and nerye-worn and thinks this is
physical exercise. whereas his muscles
and joints have been virtually idle.
And yet he looks smooth, pink and
healthy. for the most Of these signs Of
deterioration are not outwardly visible.
THE evil effects Of his physical in
activity have been greatly aggravated
by his deadly excuses and errors in
eating and drinking. There is no bur-
den too great for him to put upon his
digestive system. He would not think
Of mixing bricks or scrap iron or grav-
81 with the fuel for the furnace which
heats his house but he does not hesi-
tate to follow this plan in furnishing
the fuel for his body. He feeds his
stomach with all sorts Of tasty junk,
much Of which cannot be fully digest
ed. and which results in the trouble
that comes from decentralization,
Auto-tntoxicatiOn has a fascination for
him. He seems to think it is some
automatic way Of getting pleasure
Slowly the fact is sinking in that his
accumulation Of fat is due to the eX-
cessive use Of meats, sugar, butter.
sweets. cream and other rich fat and
oily foods-minus exercise. With every
pound he gains Of excess fat, his
chances for shortened life increase.
He should note the insurance records
which show that with those, above age
40. having fifteen to eighty pounds oy-
erwetght. the excess death rate ranges
from nine per cent to seventy-f1ve per
cent above the average Of all policy
n0lQerS combined.
With these statistical and other
facts before us, it seems reasonable to
assume that the power of our people to
resist fatigue and the physical stress
OF modern civilization is declining
rather than advancing. 1t is probably
true that when our ancestors left the
trees for the caves. If they did, they
had high mortality experience until
adjusted to their new living conditions.
1t may develop that the same will be
true Of our change from physically ac-
i've lives, chiefly outdoors, to physical
~ inactive lives in the caves and
pdeeonholes Of our modern dwelling
places. But wholly aside from the
question Of declining national vitality.
surely there can be no doubt as to the
urgent need Of improving the physical
preparedness Of our people for the pro-
lection Of the state and of posterity,"