The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-16
The Herald
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OF production in the industries on
this country, according 70 the re-
port OF the elimination OF waste
In Industry recently made By a
committee OF the Federated Amer.
lean Engineering Societies.
The waste and loss due 10 IN
health could be materially reduced
and leave an economic balance In
the working population alone over
and above the cost Of prevention
of At least sI.o0e, 900. 600 a year
the engineers declare after a study
Of figures derived from studies OF
individual groups. from Insurance
experience. from census reports.
from draft records.
The report on national vitality
! prepared in 1903 for President
/, Roosevelt's National Conservation
Commission estimated that there
was then q total OF about 5000. 900
persons ill at that time in this
country, that there was an average
annual Loss Of thirteen days due 20
illness, that az per cent OF this
illness was preventable and that
such prevention would extend the
average life over fifteen years
Since that report, an evident reduc-
ton In illness has been accom-
pIIshed, and today, the report esti-
mates, between eight and nine days
/ Is probably near the fact.
The 100000 men and women
I gainfully employed probably lose
on an average more than eight days
each annually from illness disabili-
ties including nonindustrial acct
dents-a. total Of $1,000. 900 days.
the report says ''of the SOC. 900
y Orkers who die each year. IL Is
probable that the death Of at least
on--hAlf is postponsble. by proper
medical supervision, periodic medi-
cal examination. health education.
and community hygiene
Assuming that the average lire
has. aside from all spiritual and
human values. an economic value TO
industry OF not less than 5000. and
! assuming that the special diet. care,
snd medical attention required by
a man chemically i'll costs 50 per
day, IL has been estimated that the
economic loss from preventable dis
ease and death is 31.SOe.OOO amorE
those classed as gainfuliy err
ployed-or over t7OO.O0o.OOo amont-
industrial workers in the more lin
tied meaning Of the term
I Tuberculosis is the most important
disease among Industrial workers.
two or three deaths per 1000 per
annum occurring at the working
ages l. IL estimated that PEI
cent OF the wage esrners. or about
40 600 lives are affected. The eco
nomic loss from tuberculosis death
lace as affecting tire working popu-
lation is $500, 200 zoo annually.
Pneumonia. influenza and typhoid
fever are the most important com
inunicable diseases among adults.
Influenza and pneumonia, IN non
epidemic years. take about $4,000
lives in the working ages. and az
count for at least $4,000 cases OF
illness. Typhoid fills close 10 lso.-
200 sick bees annually and takes
5000 lives. mostly in the working
ages.
In a large Industrial area hook
worm infection was present among
at least s per cen: OF the laboring
population.
Malaria is so seldom a direct cause
of death that IL is difhcult TO esti-
mate its extent and influence. u
is responsible for much substsnd-
ard health. and probably affects l.
SOC. Zoo people annually, covering
$1,000, 900 days absence.
1T may be roughly estimated that
: 500 600 workers are infected with
vencresl disease. Judging by the
draft figures, Sc per cent would be
an outside estimate for ages 81 TO
81 in the general mixed population.
white and colored, for all venereai
infections. II has been estimated
that about so per cent Of the in
! lection occurs in this age period.
Another study, il should be said.
found less than / per cent Of syph-
Ills in industry and about per cent
in mixed population. The Mayo
Clinic found as per cent OF syphilis
in mixed classes. and 10 per cent
among railway men,
There are more than 5000, 900
workers with organic diseases re-
shifting mostly from infection.
special attention has been given
In recent wears 10 the question OF
defective vision and to that OF de-
fective teeth. II is estimated that
25,oOo,OO0 workers have oefectlVe
vision requiring correction
Experience indicates that author
ties agree. that as per cent OF the
losses due to Industrial accidents
could l., avoided. with a saving In
direct. clearly ascertained losses OF
$3.50. 600 900 per year to employers.
and $500 900 600 TO employees, the
report finds.
"In 1919 there occurred in indus
try about $4,000 fatal accidents.
about $4,000 nonfatal accidents
causing four weeks or more OF
disability and 5000, 900 accidents
causing at least one days disabil-
ity." the engineers say.
The time lost is estimated to be
oS6. OoO. 600 days. Allowing for an
average wage Of 50 per day during
the time actually lost, adding an es-
innate for impaired earning power
because Of disability or death, but
subtracting the subsistence Of those
killed, this gives an economic loss
TO the country of about tS53,,oOO,OOo
for the year 1919. This not the
whole loss chargeable TO accidents
Records indicate that the total d.
rect cost Of industrial accidents IN
the United States in 1919. includlng
medical aid and insurance Overhead.
was not less than Sl.ol4.ooo.eeO. OF
this sS4s 100000 by employees and
their dependents.
Accidents in the building indus
try result in an economic loss OF
size 900. 600 per year. the report
concludes.
IAN Official OF large insurance
cop,nany believes that by proper
safety measures, the waste que 70
---,a.r.. In thn hmildinE induslry