New Britain herald., 1926-12-02
FISK TELLS HOW
 ID LIVE LONGER
60 P. C. of Chronic Organic Diseases PreYentahe, He Says

average span or nuuldu Illo IS lengthening every day, according to Dr. Eugene L. Fisk. medical direc. tor of the Life Extension Institute of New York city. who spoke to he New Britain Rotary club today on Health as source of power in a business career"
 He began his address by stating that when people feel vital and strong and "alive" is just the time they need a doctor most. "The busi- ness man is more in need of wise counsel in business when he Is at the high tide of prosperity than when he goes bankrupt" he said. After he has gone bankrupt 1t is too late.
 "When the human body goes bankrupt 1t Is not very sensible to go to the doctor and ask him to do impossible things"
 Many people take to patent medi- cines as short cut for relief, he ex- plained, referring to last minute ac- ton when something noticeable has gone wrong with the body.
 According to the United States registration figures there are 1,10O,- 900 deaths each year, of which 154,00o are from heart disease, So,- GOO from tuberculosis, S1,ooo from cancer, so,000 from arterial dis eases, s2,oop from kidney diseases and 17.O0O from diabetes.
 "There are over 60o,o0o deaths annually from chronic diseases of the kind known as silent sickness which seldom speak in terms of disability" he said. These diseases consist of 40 per cent of the death rate but only three per cent of the sickness rate. Sixty per cent Of the sickness rate consists of bronchitis, influenza and colds.
 "The one fundamental thing is to have periodical health examina- ttons. International experts agree that cancer is a curable disease when taken at its beginning. Enor- nous gains against cancer could be made by widespread practice of periodical examination.
 Sixty per cent of the deaths are preventable. We could save enough lives annually by periodical ex- animation so that we would not need immigration to supply indus- try with all the recruits it needs. Pessimists present a picture of life as . vale of tears. They are all wrong. The yellow fever in the canal zone was not an act Of God. The zone was transformed until to- day its death rate is better, &C., cording to It's population, than New York city.
 "unhappiness Is just as prevent able as typhoid fever. Almost in- variably 1t is found in mental or physical Ill health. Get that infec- ton out of bodies and you will make the country better. I would like to get some of those pessimis- tic intellectuals in my laboratory so I could see what is the matter with their livers. ....
 If you want to maintain good health and get all the happiness and comfort out of life you must work for 1t You've got to use industry, brains and intelligence.
 ''Men like to take medicine or go somewhere and take physical exer- else. Exercise is all right if you want to use your muscles. I know men who would give s1,000 for physical culture course that Is all bunk. Some men won't take the trouble to read a little diet book that any office boy can assimilate. Men will study the radio or an automo- bile, but how many will study the of their body?
 "The average lifetime today Is about 5s. Professor Fisher says at the end of the present century it will be advanced to 80 years. He is will ing to bet 10 to 1 on 1t. I have placed bet with a New York news paper that the avedage life will be extended to 65 years by 1880. Living are becoming better every Jay Communities are being better governed. Sanitary conditions are being regulated. In the past 400 years there was gain of 37 years, | n the past 30 years there was a gain of 13 and there was a gain of | seven years to the average lifetime the past 15 years.
 This gain Is chiefly due to the saving of young lives. There has oeen very little gain in lives after 70 because of that so per cent of shronic diseases. One important phase is the diet and health of eX- ,ectant mothers. Children should be permitted to battle with life but hould be carefully guarded against organic diseases.
 "We are not being chased to the rave by a ridiculous old man with ! scythe; we are being chased to he grave by organisms.
 Paying attention to birthdays is . very bad practice. The psychologi- ,al effect is very bad. If man feels we'll today, no matter whether he is 70, 60, 70 or so, there is no need ,t his birthday being called atten- ion to. If he feels well that's his tatus. It is good metal hygiene to ut out calling attention to birth lays.
 Twelve years have elapsed since periodical examination has been put nto practice. Mortality savings by insurance companies have been such -s more than cover the expense Of he examinations within that time.
 Tn industry from 50 to 70 per .ent of the disabilities found by ,eriodic examinations are corrected within one year. This service should 'e available to all employees on a 0-50 cost basis.
 "The annual preventahle loss mong working people amounts to bout three billion dollars; industry 1sses about two billion dollars. These flures are based on the following es- mate: A baby is worth SlS0; at the