PERIODIC HEALTH EXAMINATIONS 329 



corded, and particular attention is given to harmful living habits carry- 

 ing potential impairment. 



The noteworthy features of the record are as follows : 



1. The high percentage of impairments or imperfections. 



2. The high percentage of disturbances or impairments of the heart, 



blood vessels and kidneys. 



3. The large percentage of individuals in both groups who were not 



aware of impairment — 93 per cent, among insurance policyholders 

 and 96 per cent, among commercial groups. 



Among the insurance policyholders 65 per cent., and among the 

 commercial groups 59 per cent., were sufficiently impaired to be re- 

 ferred to physicians for treatment with full report of the conditions 

 found. In appropriate cases instruction in personal hygiene was also 

 given. 



Those in the commercial group were examined by trained examiners 

 of the home-office staff, all of whom followed uniform methods and 

 standards. All laboratory work was done at the home office, thus elimi- 

 nating possible errors from differing standards of examination or tech- 

 nique. Those in the life-insurance group were scattered throughout 

 the country, but were examined by physicians specially selected and 

 instructed regarding the standards and methods to be observed. 



Probably the most striking and important fact revealed by these 

 examinations is the large percentage of young men showing arterioscle- 

 rosis, or thickening arteries. This condition is one of slow growth, and 

 it is not, after all, surprising, in view of the high and increasing death 

 rate from cardiovascular troubles in middle life, that we should find the 

 beginnings of these chronic changes in early life. 



The lesson from these figures is that we must often start in at 25 

 or earlier to prevent a death from apoplexy at 45. 



The checking of the degenerative maladies is not such a spectacular 

 matter as the stamping out of typhoid, yellow fever or tuberculosis, but 

 the possibilities for effective work through personal hygiene and guid- 

 ance in correct living habits are quite as great. All along the line we 

 find magnificent opportunities for improvement, teeth, eyes, nose, throat, 

 ears, circulation, living habits, etc. 



Those who accept the average man as a fairly able-bodied citizen 

 seldom realize how far below his attainable condition of physical sound- 

 ness and efficiency he is. 



To some, this may seem like a study in pessimism. It may smack 

 of pathological detective work which seeks to uncover human frailties 

 and conjure up a Cassandra-like vision of "Woe, woe, to the human 

 race." This is a superficial and pitifully inadequate view of activities 

 fraught with tremendous possibilities for racial advancement. 



What about the harmful effect of mental suggestion? For some 



VOL. LXXXVI. — 23. 



