Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 82.djvu/390

386 relief plan for the sick, rather than a measure of disease prevention. Nevertheless, of those found impaired, 44 per cent, were absolutely unaware of their impairment, showing the positive need for such a system. The following analysis of the impaired lives may prove of interest:

The above should be interpreted as follows: Of the risks showing affections of heart, blood-vessels, kidneys and diabetes, 4.9 per cent, were between 20 and 30, 13.8 per cent, between 30 and 40, etc. 63 per cent, of those between 40 and 50 affected with diseases of heart, blood-vessels, kidneys and with diabetes were unaware of impairment. 4.5 per cent, of all impairments found occurred in the age-group between 20 and 30, 17.9 per cent, between 30 and 40, etc. 96 per cent. of those unaware of impairment exhibited affections of heart, blood-vessels, kidneys and diabetes. 39.5 per cent, of those examined were found impaired.

Attention is called to the large percentage of degenerative affections found at middle life, among those who supposed that they were in sound health.

The mortality experience, although derived from a comparatively small group, has extended over a sufficient period to prove instructive, and is set forth in the following charts: