Page:George Archdall Reid 1896 The present evolution of man.djvu/323

Rh It is one of the risks to which every moderate drinker renders himself liable.

"63. It has been alleged that the difference arises from the fact that when members of the Temperance Section cease to abstain they are transferred to the General Section, and that this alteration would be brought about by the failure of health among the more delicate, and hence that these would die earlier and swell the number of the General claims. The actuary of the office has stated that during the ten years 1881-90 the number so transferred was 470, while 725 were transferred the other way. But of the 470 only 44 have died, equal to about 0·94 per cent, per annum; while of the 725, 84 have died, or about 1T6 per cent, per annum. It is clear, therefore, that the transference of members will not account for the great difference in favour of the abstainers.

"64. The same fact comes out in the experience of the Sceptre Life Office. This is a much younger and smaller office, and draws a large number of its lives from members of one religious denomination. The majority of them are steady, good lives. The abstainers are kept distinct. In the seven years, 1884–90, the expected claims in the General Section were 679, and the actual claims 527=77·61 percent. In the Temperance Section the expected claims were 306, and the actual claims 174=56·86 per cent. Here, again, some transfers from the Temperance Section took place, namely, 397 in seven years, but of this number only seven died=0·25 per cent, per annum. These transfers are made if information is not sent every year of continued abstinence, and as a fact many are transferred who still remain abstainers. Others cease to be abstainers for social reasons, and quite apart from the question of health.

"65. It may be taken as proved, that if a number of people are insured as abstainers, and an equal number are insured as non-abstainers, the total years of life of the former will considerably exceed those of the latter. The expectation of life, or mean after-lifetime, will be shortened by the use of alcohol. The materials which would enable us to construct a Temperance Life Table