Statistics of important insurance companies in the United States towards the latter part of last year showed that if the trend at that time continued throughout the remainder of 1937, and if mortality among the general' population improved in the same degree as among insured lives, 47,000 fewer deaths could be expected in 1937, despite an increased popula-lion which would have resulted in an increase of 10,000 deaths had the 1936 death rate continued.
Taking into account the effect both of the assumed lower death rate and the increase in population, a saving of 57,000 lives in the United States could be estimated during 1937, as compared with 1936. In the case of insured lives, this is the most favourable experience reported for the past seven years and has been bettered only in the year 1930, which was the most favourable one since records have been completed Tuberculosis, as a cause of death, continued its decline, The pneumonia death rate also showed a decline during 1937 despite the epidemic of influenza at the beginning of the yea The mortality from the important di: cases of middle life and old age, such as heart disease and Bright's disease, us a group, decil 1937 in spite the fact that thi age age of polic holders is rising. One of the most striking items indicated by the figures of a leading insurance company is a great improvement in the mortality of women from childbirth.
The mortality rate from accidents, other than those due to automobiles, showed a decline of about 9 per cent in the ordinary department and about 10 per cent. in the industrial department. But the automobile situation is becoming serious because of the sizable increase in the death rates being. registered. Life insurance companies are supporting the campaign against syphilis, realising that it is only by mass^distribution of information that worth-while results may be expected.
The medical director of a leading insurance company says that the United States is enjoying extraordinarily good health. The public health campaign and medical programmes have shown wonderful results. Wherever concentrated effort has been made, results more than commensurate with the efforts have been achieved. This is true of infectious diseases especial" ly. But he says there is still rei to be done. Students specialising in these matters point out that ten years can be added to the average life span provided that health campaigns are accentuated along certain lines.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.