The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-07
LIFE INSURANCE
GLAINSINDIGATE
lON1MORTALI7Y
100000 Insured Persons
Die In First Ten Months
Of This Year.
SUICIDES DECREASE
Metropolitan Examiner Says
Life Can Be Extended
Ten Years.

NEW YORK, Dec. Life in
surance death claims, up to No
Yember ], show that the United
States and Canada are this year
xpenencing a health record al
Dmost identical with that Of 1927.
which was the best in public
health history. A survey Of these
claims covering the deaths for the
first ten months Of 1922 among
100000 insured persons was
submitted TO the sixteenth annual
convention Of the Association Of
Life Insurance Presidents here
this morning by DR.. Augustus S.
Knight, medical director OF the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.,
Of isycity.
This years experience with a
low death rate Is considered all
the more remarkable because the
enrst Quarter Of the year began
with d much higher mortality
Shah 4 did the corresponding period
Kin 1921. Two successive low an
nual death rates are regarded as
more than coincidence, and are
believed to be a fore-runner Of a
distinct permanent Improvement
in national health conditions.
stu further material reductions
are noted In 1922 in deaths from
tuberculosis and typhoid fever,
sEhtie suicides, homicldes and
cafidren's diseases with the excep-
ton Of measles. also show some
decrease.
Heart Diseases Increase
Ont the other hand, automobile
accidents, organic heart ailments,
cerebral hemorrhage and bright's
disease caused more deaths this
year than in 1921. Mortality from
heart disease, which led as a
cause of death last year shows a
LARGE; increase this year, a total Of
10000 deaths being indicated In
Continental United States and
Canada.
Nineteen twenty-five has been
MISUNDERSTANDING year in public
health history" said Doctor
4SnigIlt The figures for the first
en months show a death rate Just
about as good as the unsurpassed
record Of 1912. Forty-four life In
surance companies which. to-
sether, carried over SO per cent Of
the total ordinary business OF the
United States and Canada. hava
had mortality rate in 1929 of & a
deaths per 1000 lives as compar-
ed with SIS. last year. In other
world. lhe mortality rate this
year In the ordinary field is a
little more than l per cent better
than last year. The records OF the
five companies reporting on In
dIi9 rial life insurance which com.
Prise 68 per cent Of the total in
dtistrial business, show death
1rate this year Of 9.6 per 1000 as
compared with 9.4 last year,
which Is a little more than one
pers cent higher than the record Of
1921 II we combine the ordinary
aud industrial business the rate
. for this year Is almost identical
with that for last year, the figures
being {. 80 for 19221as compared
withSs.2S in 1921 or less than one
half Of one per cent in excess this
year.
.The remarkable decline In
mortality which began after the
influenza epidemic in 1918 and in
the early part OF 1919, and which
means SO much for the insurance
business as well as for the public
welfare apparently continues. It
IS not a temporary benefit which
we enjoy in the recorded en-
perisnce Of the last few years. The
1ains which have been accom-
pIished are substantial and appar-
entity permanent, and that Is be-
cause they have been accomplish
d I'd by changes In fundamental
conditions.
TuberculoSis Death Rate Lower
1.-THE gains are distinctly as
ISOLATED with an improvement in
the tuberculosis death rate" said
Or, knight. "That disease is rap
idly giving way to the onslaught
Of public health work and Of en-
lfghtened social policy as we'll as
philanthropy. In 1922 the rate
has been 5 per cent lower than
In 1921 This means that $500
\ less deaths from tuberculosis will
Y occur this year among the 53.-
!lDU0. 900 of policyholders In the
y UNITED States and Canada. II SINH
lar conditions have occurred in
the general population OF the
United States and Canada, tAsre
are likely to be at least T,50U
fewer deaths from tuberculosis
this year than last. In like man
&ner, the death rate has improved
very materially for typhoid fever,
where there has been a drop of 20
per cent In this one year, or saw
ing OF nearly 700 lives among
ipolicyholders Of all the American
companies, or probably 1900 in
the population OF the two couu-
tries. They have been very ma
terial declines also in the NOR
tally Of children from the con
Ataglous diseases with the single