4^ ITALY - IXSURAXCE AXD THRIFT 



labour (i), whether or not he be compelled to insure. It also paj's indem- 

 nities to persons temporarily disabled in the course of labour, but only if 

 they be subject to the obligation to insure. However in the case of grave 

 accidents, happening to labourers who are not compelled to insure and en- 

 tailing expenses for hospital or other medical treatment and prolonged 

 temporary disablement, the fund grants fitting subsidies. 



These indemnities are payable to the victims of accidents arising in 

 the course of labour who are not subject to the obligation to insure. 

 To those within the scope of the law of 31 Januars' 1904, no. 51, as to acci- 

 dents of labour, indemnities are paid at the rate of six times the amount 

 of annual wages for permanent total disablement, and five times their amount 

 for death. From T909 to 1915 indemnities paid in response to the claims 

 which were met amounted to 361,438.17 liras, namely : 



Year 



1909 

 I9IO 

 I9II 

 I9I2 



1913 

 I9I4 



I9I5 



Total . . . 2,428 361,438.17 



The classification of the causes of the accidents has a certain value 

 because statistics of this description are almost entirely lacking. The 

 data as to the Mutual Fund of Florence, which we here reproduce, explain 

 its activity in a district of very complex agriculture and have therefore a 

 particular importance. The kinds of labour in the course of which acci- 

 dents were incurred were as follows : 



(1) If a member meet with an accident he must notify the fact on a special form, on the 

 back of which the doctor must give the necessary facts as to the nature of the injurj' and its 

 consequences and the term of disablement. In the case of every accident the member is oblig- 

 ed to bear the cost of the first medical certificate and attendance. \\TieE the doctor's certifi- 

 cate testifies that the victim has been permanently disabled the Mutual Fund invites him to 

 receive a visit from .he fund's skilled doctors, who together investigate and estimate the de- 

 gree of partial disablement , the corresponding deduction in labour [lower, and the indemnity due. 



