The Washington times., 1917-02-12
HURRY BOOSTING
MORTALITY RATES
After Age Of Forty, Ravages of
Speeding Up" Become
Apparent.
DIM LONGEVITY PROSPECTS
Nation Carried Away With
Emotional Excess, Says
Insurance Expert.
DIM LONGEVITY PROSPECTS

american hurry Is causing an In
creasing death rate after the age Of
forty years.
This statement, recently made by
E.'E. Rittsnhouse, commiss8ner Of
public service and conservation Of
the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
has been substantiated by physicians,
actuaries, life conservation experts,
and health authorities OF Washington
within the past few days.
This Is true IN the face OF the fact
that the general death rate per thou
sand in the United States is .decreas-
ing and the expectation OF life is
greater. In the year 1850 Americans
were dying at the rate OF lbs per
1000 every year. while at the pres
ent the rate is IA per 1000.
Based on Census Tables.
The baby born in 1880 had before
him, according to the expectation
tables. q life OF forty-one years. The
experts now estimate that children
will live for nifty years. This state
ment Is also verified by the United
States Census tables Apparently
then, the span of life has been
heightened by nine years.
On the other hand, the American
OF fifty in 1880 was encouraged by
the actuaries to hope that he would
the expectancy is decreased to 1879
years.
Prospects DImmed.
This means that as men. reach
middle life their prospect of lon
gevity has been reduced by approx
mately two years. Fewer Americans
are reaching an advanced age. II is
not now at all unusuai to hear OF
the active man OF affairs passing
way at forty-nve, although in the
Ast century this would have been a
subject OF astonished comment
The goad that urges many Ameri-
cans OF middle age to their death II
worry. Sometimes they call II over
work. Experts agree that 1t IL not
the work that kiHs, but the attempt
to do too many things at one time.
This often results in having so much
to do that 1t Is impossible really TO
do anything.
The crux OF the situation is summed
up in the words OF bulletin recently
issued by the United States Public
Health Service, which has been gath
ering statistics on nervous diseases
and other maladies which tend TO
shorten life.
Refuse Natures Example.
$50 far as is known" reads the
bulletin, mo bird ever tried to build
more nests than its neighbor: no fox
ever fretted because he had only one
hole in which to hide: no squirrel
every died of anxiety lest he shouId
not lay up enough nuts for two win
ters instead OF for one. and no dog
ever lost any sleep over the fact that
he did not have enough bones laid
aside for his declining years"
We have too many opportunities.
says the bulletin, and the very fact
that this is the land OF opportunity
increases the nerve tension OF the in
habitants. In other countries, espe-
cially in the ante bellum Europe, life
went in well-ordered grooves, while
here in the United States one is con-
reaching out for more and
better opportunities and more fields
to conquer and for the greater pleas
uicS which AuoAo h1ohOy - lHOuBhe ~
bring.
Worry n Primary Reason.
These economic exeesses, worry,
fear, anxiety, anger, jealousy, and
others, cause certain ductless glands
in the body to discharge into the sys-
tenn certain poisons, thus Fastening
the death OF the Individual subject
to them.
Though the typical American may
have been for years undergoing de-
changes, says the bulletin,
he is often smooth OF skim. pink COM
plexioned, and seemingly healthy,
and he thinks that he is well because
he Is not on the sick bed
But he Is wrong. and the death rate
from diseases of the heart, blood yes
sells, and kidneys has practically
doubled in this country in the past
thirty years. while In Great Britain
there has been "a slightly reduced
from these causes.
speeding Up, Ii Harmful.
THE speeding up of American life
has blinded the average American
business man to the true condition of
fffairs. He is jumping at the op-
for success. the means of
making money. the enjoyment which
comes from the free spending of
wealth. He is carried away with
emotional excess.
He Is given to hurry and Sorry.
His brain is constantly peppered with
new Impressions. He lives in turmoil.
In his eagerness to play the game of
our modern life he forgets how to
i've. He is constantly spending his
without knowing 1t.
mo engineer who knows his busi-
ness to quote further from the
thinks of keeping an engine
running continuously without over
He does not wait until It
breaks down
Medical Examination.
1T is the same with he,body. How
foolish t3 delay till the body breaks
DOWN. Remember that most chronic
diseases can be prevented IL only
cared for in time. Don't wait until
the symptoms begin to show. A care
'ul medical examination will discover
the beginning Of the disorder.
This, then, is the basis on which
the authorities OF Washington would
sound their warning to both old and
young. and especially to those ap-
the noontide of life, so that
there may be promoted that public
health on which Disraeli said reposed
fba Of nannla