Show Noted Insurance Authority Says Depression Kept Death Rate Low The year 1931 was the best health year car on record according to Dr Louis I I. I Dublin officer and statistician clan cian of or one of oC the largest American insurance companies who bases his unqualified statement on the thc experience ence of oC the millions o of industrial poll poll- poli-I poli insured by his company In Inthe Inthe the past it has been found that this large cross section of or the populations of oC the two countries gives an accurate accurate accurate rate inde index for the countries at large The death rate for 1931 will either be ae the best on record or approximately approximate approximate- ly Iy equal to that of or 1930 1030 which represented represented the lowest mortality previously previous previous- ly recorded said Dr Dublin but even en i if no improvement over 1930 is shown we still consider it the outstanding outstanding out out- standing health year ear because of the continued good health of the nation In fri the face of even more unfavorable economic conditions than prevailed in 1930 1030 In a few months when official off off- cial dat figures will become available for the general populations of the United States and nd d Canada the they too will show t that tl not only the insured but all alii I the people have bave similarly enjoyed extraordinarily good health Such a result is not only gratifying but very surprising in a year ear characterized by b bYI severe economic depression and by widespread unemployment There is no evidence as yet that the prevailing distress has had any measurable effect ef feet on the health of the people Dr Dublin points out that among his company's insured the cumulative death rate for the 11 elapsed months of 1931 to December 1 I was only two- two tenths of oC one per cent above the minimum minimum mini mini- mum recorded in 1930 and furthermore furthermore furthermore further further- more the month of December 1931 enjoyed lower mortality rates than those of December 1930 The entire year will therefore measure up to toor toor toor or even better belter 1930 FACTORS ARE STUDIED Asked his opinion of why the health of the American people had continued contin contino to be maintained in the presence of oC economic difficulties Dr Dublin said I This perhaps may be an I tion Throughout the depression the public health services Ices and the medical medical medi medi- cal cat facilities have been maintained as never ne before Hospital beds for forthe forthe forthe the care of tuberculosis and of other communicable disease have been Increased increased increased in in- creased in number in recent years patient Out clinics have ha been extended extend extend- ed and new nev ones opened It should be said to the great credit of or our physicians that they have taken care of their patients as ni ilS' never before quite apart from front their ability to pay The American people have not lacked medical care during this emergency and apparently the fundamental needs of food clothing and shelter have been very largely made available available available avail avail- able to all in distress Very few in deed have been neglected to the point of starvation That is probably why the sickness and mortality records as we have found them are surprisingly like those of or 1930 which in its turn was the best ever experienced There is even cven the presumption that the very necessity for tor more careful care care- ful family expenditures and the consequent consequent con con- sequent reductions in our consumption tion of food and drink have had something some some- thing to do in promoting the good health conditions we have described I i As a people we are given normally to overfeeding and this has led to I much trouble as physician j I knows I would not be surprised 1 if under the present conditions of enforced enforced enforced en en- forced moderation many have enjoyed en en- joyed better health than ever before MONEY MONET LACK A BLESSING After all the great majority o of people have continued to work an and their incomes now go further tha than before Tl This s situation may favorably affect fully 75 per cent of our lion tion Of OC course there are arc limits to moderation and abstemiousness beyond beyond beyond be be- yond which health is easily Impaired But more in my opinion have pro profited prof profited this year than have been injured injure by the necessity to cut down on ou our rich over diet The good effects of or the benefits the people have enjoyed in the pas past have ha carried over What people have hav learned of or personal h hygiene giene from th the visiting nur nurse e from the educational literature they have read rend from th the advice of their physicians and of their health officers they have kept i in mind and it has served them durin during difficult times No one can cnn say how ho howlong howlong long the present favorable health conditions conditions con con- will vilI continue Sooner or later late we must expect evidences of or in increased increased in- in creased morbidity and mortality i ithe if the economic stringency is much pro pro- longed Much will depend on what wha preparations arc are made to meet th the needs of or those who feel the burden burde most The le lesson son obviously is to continue con con- to build up the protective services services ser ser- vices of or the community to an increasIng ing degree and md not to nIl allow ow the present present pres- pres ent period In fri any way to lessen th the resources available for the protection of or the health of the people be they adequate hospital beds patient out clinics or the preventive services o othe of the health department During a period of oC extensive and serious Unemployment unemployment unemployment un un- employment It Jt is especially Important Important important tant that the machinery of or the public welfare shall function undisturbed Thus far the health of the country countr has stood up wonderfully We mus roust must do everything in our power to maintain maintain main main- tam tain this condition throughout th the period of or depression and into the new nc era of prosperity which is sure t to follow |