COLUMBIA LIBRARIES OFFSITE HEALTH SCIENCES STANDARD HX64077152 RA436 R51 2 Protecting the human CoHege ot ^fjpgicians; anb burgeons! ICibrarp Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Open Knowledge Commons http://www.archive.org/details/protectinghumanmOOritt Protecting The Human Machine A word to employers and others on the steadily increasing waste of health, efficiency and life from organic diseases. From an Address delivered before THE BOARD OF TRADE Washington, D. C, April 27, 1915 By E. E. Rittenhouse, President LIFE EXTENSION INSTITUTE, Inc. 25 West 45th Street New York 'X: Protecting the Human Machine Condensed from an address before the Board of Trade of Washington, D. C, delivered by President E. E. Rittenhouse, of the Life Extension Institute, on April 27, 1915. Evidence fonnd in the mortality records indicates a marked decline in the poAver of American workers to with- stand the strain of modern life. In the natural order of things, the human machine will wear out and life must end. But why should Americans wear out sooner, now, than they did a few years ago? Why have the chances of early death after reaching the prime of life increased ? How do we know that this has happened? Because of the extraoi dinarj'- increase in the death rate from the break- ing down of the heart, arteries, kidneys, and of the nervous and digestive systems. These are the diseases of old age. They are reaching down into middle life and below, and increasing there, and apparently at all ages. These slowly developing afflictions are not only reduc- ing the working, productive period of life but they are lowering the working capacity of the individual often before he realizes it, or recognizes the cause. They are responsible for accidents, for damaged machines, spoiled goods, and other costly errors. They are the concealed enemies of alertness, accuracy and efificiency. Therefore, every em- ployer, small or large, is financially concerned in checking the ravages of this steadily advancing enemy. An idea of the magnitude of this waste can be gained from the fact that about 410,000 American lives are annually destroyed by these old age diseases, as follows : Under age 40 60,000 Age 40 to 60 105,000 Above age 60 245,000 410,000 2 Virtually all these deaths belong in the group above age 60. The loss of fully eightj^ per cent, of these lives could be postponed from a few days to several years if these diseases were discovered in their incipiency, and the doctor given a chance to treat them in time. In three decades the records show that the mortality from these diseases has nearly douMed. In the short period of ten years, the census shows that the death rate from these diseases of degeneration increased in a group of over 5,000,0000 occupied males as follows: OCCUPIED MALES INCREASES-DECREASES FROM CERTAIN DEATH RATE PER 100.000 UISEASCS ]90Q QV£p ,890 LEI. INC 40- 30- 20- 10- I89( 10 20 30 40 APOPLEXY - NERVOUS SYSTEM HEART KIDNEY URINARY LIVER S DIGESTION TYPHOID TUBERCU- LOSIS PNEUMONIA INCREASES 1 DECR :ases 30.8 38 43 aas S j 43 1 4i (See above chart) JNC REASE Rate Per cent. Apoplexy and Nervous system. ..... 30.6 19 Heart 38. 29 Kidney and Urinary system. ...... . 43, 43 Liver and Digestive system 22.5 34 The same story of the declining power of the American people to resist diseases of the vital organs is told by the statistics in the general population wherever comparisons can be had. 3 The same record shows that the nrortality rate has declined from the importarrt communicable diseases, typhoid, tuberculosis, etc., against which an active war has been waged. Is there any soirnd reason why employers, arrd social and religioirs leaders, who have large bodies of people under their control or influence, should longer ignore this erremy, which is making such a successful raid on American vitality ? Millions of Americans are now afflicted with various diseases in the incipient form. This is to be expected, for all diseases mrrst have a start, aird the most of them develop slowly. It is during this period, wheir sickness is approach- ing without the victim's knowledge, that periodic physical ex- aminations perform their greatest service. The Life Exterrsion Institute has giverr thoiough physical examinations to a large number of officials, clerks, and other employes of ba]rks and commercial houses — the average age being thirty years. Note the result. CONDITIONS IN A PREFERRED GROUP OF F^.TPT.OYSS. PERCENTAGE IMPAIRMENTS NORMAL EMPLOYES GOM'L. HOUSES 3 MINOR PREVENTABLE 38 STAGE MODERATE SI b OR STAGE 1 ! il 111 ^u (0 CO SERIOUS 8 ^ u O b. U a L.E.I. INC. This experience is of especial interest because tliese people would naturally be looked upon as a preferred class, so far as health hazard is concerned. They were an orderly, temperate and well-nourished group. It must be remembered that these examinations were made of apparently well people who were on their feet and at work. The purpose was not merely to find disease, but to report the physical condition of each individual, which includes physical defects and tendencies that lead to disease, as well as actrral health impairments ranging from the iircipient to the serious forms. 3^° passed as normal. 389^ were found with minor impairments or tendencies indicating the possible early approach of disease, which, with proper attention, could be headed off, and these people were advised accordingly. 51 9^" had from moderate to serious impairments needing medical treatment or supervision. S^° were seriously impaired, needing immediate medical attention. The entire 599^° were sent to their doctors for treatment or guidance. Now here are two significant facts relating to these people. Virtually all of the 59 impaired cases irr each one hundred were either cirrable or serious results postponable — the most of them for marry years. Over 90 per cent, of this class did not know of their darrger. Naturally, those in the minor class are steadily dropping into the moderate class, arrd those from the moderate class are passing into the serious class, and from the serious class to invalidism and — the end. Now the question : Why should we in this age permit ourselves and our employes to continue this habit of drifting blindly into fatal illness? Is it not perfectly obvious that by giving these people periodic health examinations and hygienic advice and guidance in the habits of life, the annual sick and death list in this group will be reduced? Let us for a moment compare the human organism with the machinery of a locomotive. THE LOCOMOTIVE AND THE HUMAN MOTOR. Accidents to the locomotive correspond to the germ diseases, which are really accidents, and in time will donbt- less all be prevented. In the wear and tear of the valves, boiler tubes, cyl- inders, bearings and other vital parts of the locomotive we have organic diseases — the diseases of degene ation, for the life of the locomotive, like that of man, is detei mined by the strain which is put upon its hardest worked parts. There are tAvo general causes for shortening the life of a locomotive which also apply to the human machine. If it is originally defective or structurally weak, the stress of service soon puts it out of commission. If its machinery is not properly cared for, it will soon go to the scrap heap. But we treat this machine of metal better than we do the human machine; every bearing, every point of friction and strain is carefully watched. The engineer and lireman are constantly inspecting the vital parts, and they are ever on the alert for the slightest change in the normal sound of its working, which to them would mean that something was out of adjustment. In this event, they promptly pro- ceed to correct it before damage is done. The vitals of the locomotive are not only thoroughly inspected at the end of each run, but every so often it has a general overhauling. In running the human machine, we take no such precautions We feed it too much or too little fuel; we overstrain its valves, tubes (arteries), and its vital parts generally by making it carry a heavier load than it should, and by ex- cesses of various kinds. We give little heed to adjusting our food to the needs of the body, and to the proper disposal of po>sons and waste. Tlje fact that the heart, arteries and kidneys are among the ves y important organs that never rest, does not impress us. We know that they toil night and day; that they were woiking when we came into the world, and that their task js ^'ontinn^nv' mTtil we leave it. Common sense tells us that the strain upon these vital organs is excessive, and that thev should have the best of care. INSPECTION IGNORED. But instead of having tliis delicate and complex ma- chine of ours professionally inspected from time to time, to head off trouble in its early development, we wait until by overstrain or neglect some valve or tube, or other im- portant organ is injured. Then we loudly clamor for the doctor to repair and restore this machine, which has been damaged and perhaps ruined beyond hope. This stupid and perverse practice of ignoring the jossibility of sickness until stricken with it is costing the American nation about 900,000 premature deaths every year, and an enormous amount of needless sickness, for all of these deaths can be postponed from a short period to seveial years, if the causes are detected and treated in time. This is one of the deadly habits of humanity which the Life Extension Institute is trying to induce people to abandon. In fact, it has already caused very many people to do so. Why should not you and every sane person subscribe to and observe this pledge: I want to know how to live a healthful life and to do it naturally, without worry or care. I shall, therefore, learn and try to observe the rules of personal hygiene, — which means the proper care of the body and its organs. I also pledge myself to have periodic health examinations to locate any health impairments in their incipiency when they will respond to corrective measures or treatment. If we are as highly ci\ilized as we think we are, if we want to conserve our health and lives as we pretend we do, why should we not at once adopt this very sensible course? Every employer has it Avithin his power to upbuild the health, efficiency and lia|;};iness of his employes by giv- ing them periodic health examinations and educational literature on personal hygiene or healthful living. By this means he not only serves liis own interest, but he performs a gieat human service, and becomes an effective and important factor in the patriotic and humane movement to upbuild Ameiican vitality and make life not merely longer, but hap- P'ier and more useful. PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTE. The increasiug waste of vitality and health among workers and others from organic disease emphasizes the need of the public service which the Life Exten- sion Institute, Inc., is organized to perform. This service consists of supplying employers for their employes (and other groups, as well as individ- ual applicants), with periodic physical examinations and monthly educational letters on personal hygiene. Reports are made to the employe, and to his doctor and his employer if desired. The Institute is counselled by a Hygiene Reference Board of nearly 100 authorities in the various fields of health and life conservation. The Chairman of this Board is Professor Irving Fisher, of Yale Uni- versity; the Chairman of the Board of Directors is former President Wm. H. Taft, and General Wm. C. Gorgas is Consultant on Sanitation. These, and other scientists, publicists and business men Avho organized the Institute, designed it as a self-supporting public service institution. Hence the charges are moderate. The service is comprehensive, scientific and effect- ive, and extends tliroughout the country. Partic- ulars furnished on application. LIFE EXTENSION INSTITUTE, INC., 25 West 45th Street, N. Y. C. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, as provided by the rules of the Library or by special arrange- ment with the Librarian in charge. DATE BORROWED DATE DUE DATE BORROWED DATE DUE C28(i141)m100 RA436 ^^^^ Rittenhouse