El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-12-07
Influenza Casualties

OUR casualties have been greater than imagined
" Little published in the concluding weeks Of fight
ing indicate the heavy losses which know the
American forces suffered But now nearly month after
the cessation of hostities, of casualties still
pouring in By the thousands and IS known there still
many thousands which have not yet been disclosed by the
war department
And as the war casualties have greater than pre-
Iuarv estimates indicated so also the casualties from
that other taker influenza have been greater than
previously believed Its ravages life have been TIE
mendous It has killed by thousands and had permanent
weakening effect on more thousands Nov life insurance
experts, who remarkably accurate as to matters al
fecing mortality, have arrived at very interesting
conclusions regarding it.
The Spanish influenza epidemic which swept this
Try during the "stoe" millions of the best years
of life from American manhood and womanhood, Henry
NOR, insurance authority of New York. declares.
The average economic loss Of active life IN each case OF
death from the maady its aftermath at least p
years. said M NOR, emphasizing the popularity of the
epidemic which found most of its victims under 30 years
Of age as compared with average life of SIS and 90
years of persons insured in well established companies
Addressing the Association of Life Insurance Presi
dents, Mr. NOR, who IS president of the Acual society
Of America described how the epidemic had dsocated the
standard mortality experience OF the insurance companies
in the past IS years With pesence taking toll of
lives in the United States and Canada during that period
he said the standards of health of persons under so
found to be much better than at any recorded time the
past But the influenza epidemic causing s6s2a deaths in
~ large cities in eight weeks, average of four Of
every 1000 of the population he added, had brought
element into the situation Investigation Of claims before
several large insurance companies he declared showed that
10 percent of the deaths due influenza and 81 per
cent to pneumonia following influenza while less than
percent were Of persons SIS years. against 80 per-
cent under 40 and 60 percent under IS.
From these figures the actuaIy said it apparent
that the age Of maximum Yulence of the epidemic had
been under 80, taking the young and vigorous-those
whom We expected TO undertake much of the worlds
work"
Mr. MOir warned the public that there assurance
that the danger is past ave learn he said @that in
fluenza is revsng Europe and this time there are
indications that be Objectionable the
mlder form Of midsummer. We should therefore take
warning from this recurrence and observe watcul care TO
prevent further infection, since the disease has distinctly
decreased and seems to be dying out this country"
The point is that although influenza seems to be dying
out IN this country it is apt to revive and regain all its
FORMER ugor unless constant watchfulness succeeds in
keeping It down There is still of here in Ell Paso
and new cases developing infTequeny as could
De wished Precautions against It not be abandoned