PROBLEM D Hoiv May We Achieve Better Health 



for All?' 



The average length of hfe. It is believed 

 that in the i6th century the average 

 length of life in Europe was only about 

 1 9 years. By referring to Figure 3 1 5 you 

 can see that ever since then there has 

 been a gradual increase in average length 

 of life. Of course, in the i6th century a 

 great many people lived to be much 

 older than 19 years. A very large number 

 died in infancy and in childhood, which 

 brought the average down to such a low 

 figure. 



The first large-scale steps taken to 

 lengthen life were in the direction of im- 

 proving the environment. You read of 

 them in the last problem. Then in this 

 century came the startling advances in 

 bacteriology; these resulted in a sensa- 

 tional reduction of deaths from infec- 

 tious diseases. And besides all this the 

 gradual raising of the standard of living, 

 higher wages, better food, better hous- 

 ing, more leisure, and greater security 

 are helping to cut down the death rate. 



16th Century 



18th Century 



19th Century 



(middle) 



1900 



1944 



19 years 



^^ 



32 years 



^^ 



40 years 



^^ 



50 years 



f 



66 years 



f 



Fig. 315 The gradual increase in average length of life. Note how, in three centuries, 

 the "'stop''^ signs have been moved farther and farther along the road. Can you predict 

 how long the road will be in the year 2000? Why or why not? 



