LENGTH OF LIFE IS INCREASING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 294, 6 May 1911, Page 10

LENGTH OF LIFE IS INCREASING

A NATION OF CENTENARIANS. AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE. Ton years ago Mr. Holt Schooling, .1 prominent 'British authority, concluded that life was increasing. On the ligureb he quoted he assumed on a mathematical basis that in a few hundred years the average man could expect to attain the age of 100, with the same assurance tlmt today we can look forward with reasonable Inch to a halfcentury of usefulness. To test this theory,and ascertain if the experiences in Australia were favorable in this respect, inquiries were made recently by a "Globe" representative. The New South Wales (lovernment Statistician could give little information on the subject of longevity of Australians, there being no records corresponding to the life tables from which Mr. Schooling made his deductions. The officer, however, affirmed that each succeeding statistician who calculated tables considered that life in Australia was increasing, and this was mainly due to the BETTER HEALTH CONDITIONS under which wo live, and the advance in medical science. "T have not looked at the subject for a long time." he continued, ''but T know that life in Australia is increasing. The only book 011 the sub ject is that writ I en by Professor Moors, and the table-; therein calculated 18S0, 1S!)0, and 11)110, showthat life is increasing all the time." Air. David Carment.chief of the actuarial department of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, said: "lu England and Wales, taking all ages together, there is a distinct, decrease 111 the ratof mortality as the century progress-;. The weight of the improvement falls 011 the early years of life up to about the age of 35, after which the rates fluctuate ft good deal and there does not seem to be at the later ages any decided improvement. Tt should be stated that such improvement as is shown belongs mostly to the last 30 rears of the century. If. now, we take the statistics decided from the experience of assured lives in the Tiritish offices, we fiiul that the latest, published experience, which was up to the year IS!).), exhibits a small though DECIDED IMPROVEMENT throughout the whole of life over the earlier experience which terminated in 1863. In regard to mortality in the United States, Mr. John K. Gore concludes

J that the gross death rate was lower at the end than at the beginning of the IDlli century, and there was a decided decline in the rate during the la-t 30 years. The decline was greatest at the youngest ages, there being actually an increase in the death rate at the older ages, in Australia similar results had been observed. The infantile deatli rati! has, during the last 41) years or so, decreased enormously, owing mainly to improved sanitation and be . milk siipPb r . I, "t the improvement a adult ages has not been nearly so apparent. Improved .sanitation aJid medical skill are the chief factors in lengthening life, and there has undoubtedly on the whole been a great improvement." Dr. Ash burton Thomson, Chief Health Officer at Xew Smith Wales, also allirmed the improvement iu the longevity of Australians, which was due to the climate and improved sanitation." "The death rate from all diseases is increasing," he said, •■excepting from cancer and JSright's di.sease, which are the principal disease have to light. The making out of a ife table is a very delicate and tricky business and can only be undertaken by men trained to actuarial investigations. It would occupy a great ma unpeople lor a very long time if, lor instance, Uie question were tlit; coiiipn.it ion of a life table lor the Commonwealth of Australia. Special life table- have be-.-n constructed for the 'ife insurance companies from their experience, and all ihe.-c «h.,\v that life is increasing." Several leading men also endorsed the opinion expressed by Mr. Schooling that the length of life was increasing.