i2 4 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



vidual may possess many of these, they may be partially or altogether 

 wanting in another, and so the judgment of juries and courts is altered 

 to meet these conditions in the individual. 



Dividing the life into age periods of five years, and combining the 

 awards in each period, it is found that the resulting average in 

 each period is thoroughly representative of the whole group and 

 possesses tolerably narrow limits of probable error. Such an arrange- 

 ment is shown in the accompanying diagram, in which the ordinates 

 represent the ages of the decedents, and the abscissae the average 

 amount of damages awarded per case, for each age group. In 

 this curve, it will be seen that the foci are plotted along the 



center ordinate, or two and one half years away from each age-group 

 limit. This is done in order that they may more truly represent the 

 value of the average valuation for each five-year term, and the re- 

 sulting curve may more nearly conform to the extremes, in its course 

 from the beginning to the end of each age group. 



Let us now examine this diagram and observe as closely as possible 

 how the relative values there expressed (without regard to the actual 

 values which they represent) conform to common observation. From 

 the initial point, there is a rapid rise, caused by a rapidly enhancing 

 value occasioned by the greater certainty of escape from the dangers 

 of tender childhood. Each month and week during this period is 

 hazardous, and as each month and year is passed in safety the risk be- 

 comes correspondingly less. Following this, is a flat portion during 

 which the values do not change so markedly, until the age of puberty 

 is passed. Then occurs a sharp increase, which, as it merges with the 

 term of self-sustenance, becomes more rapid, culminating at about 

 the age of 30 years. This is the prime of American manhood; not 

 the period of highest productiveness, nor the age of ripest wisdom. 

 The future is now the important feature, and there are questions of 



