MEDICAL SUPERVISION, 
IN DISTINCTION FROM 
\ 
Medical Selection in Life Insurance. 
QUARTERLY REPORT, 
By Moreau Morris, M. D., Surgeon-in-Ckief and Vice-President of the 
'AlSencan Popular Life Insurance Company. 
[Formerly Sanitary Superintendent Health Department, N. Y. City.; /S/f) 
APPENDIX. 
Confirmatory Evidence of/£he Value of Medical Super- 
vision. By T. S. Lambert, M.D., President. 
Remarks upon Biometry Incidental to Dr. Morris’ Report. 
By W. H. Dwinklle, M.D. 
NEW YORK: 
AMERICAN POPULAR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. 
419 & 421 Broadway, cor. Canal St. PUBLICATIONS OF THE 
American Popular Life Insurance Company, 
Written for the purpose of conveying information and instruction, not tor concealing it. 
SENT FREE TO ANY ADDRESS. 
GENERAL CIRCULAR. With complete Tables. 
CONTENTS: 
I. WHY INSURE ? 
2.—WHAT IS LIFE INSURANCE ? 
3.—HOW INSURE ? 
New Principles ! New Features! 
4.—WHERE INSURE ? 
5.—WHEN INSURE ? 
6.—WHO SHOULD INSURE t 
N. B.—FIND DIRECTIONS FOR PRESERVING LIFE AND HEALTH, AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH PAG*. 
Dr. Morris’ Annual Report, and Dr. Lambert on Medical Examination. 
Dr. Morris’ Quarterly Report, (1874.) 
Life is a Property. 
Labor-Term Insurance. 
Perfected Plan of tlie American Popular. 
Biometry ; or the Science and Art of Measuring Probable Lifetimes. 
Anecdotes of Old People. American. 32 pages. 
“ “ “ Modern European. 32 pages. 
“ “ “ Ancient. 8 pages. 
Causes and Indications of Longevity. By Benjamin Rush, M. D., (First published in 
1783.) 12 pages. 
Prize Essay Relations of Different Professions and Vocations to Longevity. 
64 pages. 
Prize Essay Relations of Temperance and Intemperance to Life Insurance. 
16 pages. 
Treatise on the Methods of Attaining a Long Life. By Lewis Cornaro, a noble Vene- 
tian, written when he was 83 to 96. 24 pages. 
Lord Bacon on Longevity. 24 pages. 
Rush, on Old Age. 
Criticism on Insurance, and Reply. 16 pages. 
Longevity and Compound Interest. 16 pages. 
Report of Hon. A. W. Paine, Insurance Commissioner of Maine. 16 pages. 
Lambert’s Chart of Physiology, Anatomy, and Hygiene. 3 sizes. 
Lambert’s Lectures on Insurance. 1st and 2d series. 12 pages. 
Tendencies of Insurance Laws. How the laws may make a weak Company appear strong, 
and a strong Company weak. 
Lecture to Young People. By the celebrated Dr. Waterhouse, (1804,) on Temperance and 
Tobacco. 
American System of Insurance. (Leaflet). 12 pages. 
Plans and Methods of the American Popular. (Leaflet). 12 pages. 
LONGEVITY. A New and Remarkable Work in two parts. Bound in Flexible Cloth. Sent 
post paid. 60 cents. 
CONTENTS, PART I. 
1. An Exposition of the Laws of Life, Exhibited in Inheritance, with Personal Indications of Lon- 
gevity. T. S. Lambert, M. D., New York. 
2. Physical Signs of Longevity in Man : Prize Essays by John H. Griscom, M. D., New York, and 
J. V. C. Smith, M. D., Boston. 
3. Brief Remarks upon Medical Examinations. C. L. Hubbell, M. D., Troy. 
CONTENTS, PART II. 
1. Practical Relations of “ Biometry ” (the Measure or Span of Life—a New Philosophy) to Life 
Insurance, explaining the necessity for, and origin of, the new methods of equalizing Premiums 
and Insurance, and of thoroughly grading and rating the insured. 
2. Plain and interesting answers to the questions : What is Insurance ? What is Life Insurance ? 
What are the Best Methods of Insurance ? By T. S. Lambert, M. D., Pres’t, and Fred. Shou- 
nard, (formerly) Sec'y. MEDICAL SUPERVISION, 
In distinction from Medical Selection in Life 
Insurance. 
QUARTERLY REPORT 
OP 
MOREAU MORRIS, M. D., 
Surgeon-in-Chief of the 
AMERICAN POPIJL AE 
LIFE 
INSURANCE COMPANY, 
Presented to the Directors, October 28, 1874, and ordered 
TO BE PUBLISHED, 
<( There is a destiny made for a man by his ancestors, and no one can 
elude, were he able to attempt it, the tyranny of his organization. 
“ No mortal can transcend his nature—Maudsley. 
EEPOET. 
It is an axiom that careful medical selection is one of the main 
elements of successful life insurance business. 
But, although admitting its truth, it must be said, that, as the 
term “ medical selection ” is usually understood and applied by life 
insurance companies, it falls far short of fulfilling the conditions 
and accomplishing the results naturally expected from what is sup- 
posed to be its searching exactness, and is comparatively of but lit- 
tle real value. 2 
This is by no means the fault of Medical Examiners, than whom 
there probably do not exist more careful, conscientious, painstaking 
men in any profession or walk of life. 
But the great defect lies in the system or method of securing 
such information as is necessary to form the basis of a proper medi- 
cal selection, and thereby to judge of the character of the risk. 
The question of how to secure the best and most careful medi- 
cal selection, has long been and still is apparently one of the most 
difficult to solve. It is the perplexing problem with nearly every 
life insurance company at the present day, and well it may be in 
view of the rapidly increasing mortality rates in many of the older 
companies, and in the younger ones also—of the old plan. 
As fond parents view with increasing alarm the rapid de- 
cease of child after child of their household from some mysterious 
fatal disease, they naturally look about for superior medical skill to 
stay, if possible, the effects of the pestilence. Experienced and wise 
doctors are summoned to the bedside, and with grave, thoughtful 
countenances, they shake their heads and say, too late! too late ! 
The disease has sown its seed, its ravages are telling with fatal ef- 
fect; we cannot suggest better remedies, and unless transfusion of 
new blood may possibly save, death remains only a question of time. 
The question of proper medical selection is indeed one of great 
significance, it is the corner-stone of the edifice of life insurance; 
its proper position in that edifice should be well considered; 
its texture and strength well tested and understood ; and when 
once firmly fixed upon a well-grounded foundation it will remain 
sound and able to sustain the superstructure, of which it forms so 
important a part. 
But with all due deference to experience whose teachings often 
fail to be appreciated, it seems to be a patent fact that the solution 
of this problem must be sought for in other directions, than simply 
by a change of men, or by more exacting medical qualifications. 
No physical exploration can estimate an applicants’ probable 
life expectation ; no medical skill nor experience in detecting pres- 
ent disease or impairment, can determine the presence of subtle 
inherited tendencies to disease that may have remained dormant 
through several generations, but which only await certain unknown 
influences to become developed in the applicant. True, as a de- 
tective discovers a trace of the culprit by some slight cue, so the 
medical examiner may detect that which has been concealed or un- 
wittingly omitted in an applicant’s preliminary statement, and 
thereby, perchance, save the company from a loss. 3 
Hitherto, so far as ascertained, with one single exception, not- 
withstanding the acknowledged indispensability of competent medi- 
cal aid, the medical department of life insurance has held only a 
position of secondary importance in the business. Common sense 
would seem to dictate that a business which depends for its success 
so directly upon a proper estimate of life’s expectation in every in- 
stance, should have within its executive department medical skill 
equal, if not superior, to that in its actuarial or financial branches, 
and such as only special medical knowledge and training can afford. 
It may not be that every medical man is competent for the 
business; for as in every other business or profession, there needs to 
be some special adaptation of person and knowledge in order to 
diagnose, classify and adjust the integral parts that control life’s 
probabilities. 
The laws of inheritance, as it regards health and disease, long 
and short life, etc., need to be well understood, closely studied, 
compared and applied. The elements of longevity, as well as of 
vitality, must necessarily enter into such accounts, and all the 
forces and influences that control and affect life and health must be 
considered and well weighed in the problem of estimating the pro- 
bable life expectation in any given instance. 
Human life is subject to so many contingencies ; its continu- 
ance depends upon so many factors, which only expert medical 
knowledge can determine, and which cannot be determined by 
actuarial science, that, so long as the business depends, as it largely 
does at the present day, upon such uncertainties as are actuarial 
estimates based upon general average mortality statistics, there 
need be no wonder that it cannot be conducted with permanent 
safety and success. 
The application of special medical supervision is the only true 
safeguard. By it only can the estimation of the probable viability 
of individual risks be properly and safely given. 
If all mankind indiscriminately could be insured, then might 
the calculation by average mortality risks be approximately correct, 
and assurance guaranteed by a company, even though with great 
inequity to the naturally long-lived; but as only a small proportion 
ever become insured, the risk is increased a thousand fold by this 
erroneous basis. 
The success of this business has not been of that substantial char- 
acter which it is possible to secure and to which it is entitled. The 
knowledge which advanced scientific investigation affords at the 
present day has been applied to life insurance only in small meas- 4 
lire. Like a flock of sheep, the lead of the bell-wether has been 
persistently followed since life insurance became established, and 
the tinkle of “ general averages ” has been the only apparent sound 
to be followed. 
Too much has been left to chance, and this fact has always here- 
tofore made the cost of insurance excessive to the best grade risks. 
It is universally acknowledged that first-grade life risks, like 
first-class fire or marine risks, are entitled to the lowest premiums, 
but how to adjust these premiums equitably, has heretofore been 
the unsolved problem. 
It has been found impossible to solve it by relying upon the 
“expectation” tables deduced from “general average mortality” 
statistics; for the experience of every large company proves them to 
be erroneous. 
It was no difficult process for mathematicians to arrange prem- 
ium tables based upon “ general average mortality ” statistics; but 
when the mortuary statistics of life insurance began to exhibit the 
fallacy of this mode of computation, actuarial science commenced 
groping for a remedy; for as the accumulated poor and bad risks 
rapidly commenced falling into their graves, the lamentation of 
mourners at their losses was mingled with low muttered curses 
upon the heads of the unoffending medical examiners. 
A scape-goat must be found upon which to load their sins of 
blind bell-wethering; and hence the great cry for better medical 
selection, a necessity for “ re-organizing the medical branch.” 
Shrewd managers of the earlier companies did not fail to see 
that by the general average plan, natural instinct would induce in- 
ferior, impaired and short-lived risks to seek the benefits of insur- 
ance for family protection; while the superior, healthy and long- 
lived risks, even if they could be induced to insure at all, must be 
allured by other means than pure and simple life insurance; or 
they would soon lapse their policies rather than pay the usurious 
rates which companies were compelled to charge in order to make 
up for the rapidly accumulating losses of the inferior risks imposed 
by general averaging. 
But this glaring fact could not long be concealed, hence a re-ad- 
justment was determined upon, which, by a more critical selection, 
sought to exclude the impaired and poorer risks. Yet still more 
recent mortuary experience proclaims in thunder tones throughout 
the land that the adjustment is still inequitable, and the rates of 
premium erroneously computed, not in accordance with the natural 
variation of risks. 5 
With all this groping, adjusting, and re-adjusting, the one 
great, most important fact has been ignored by all life companies 
with one exception. 
There is a fundamental point which cannot be ignored, which 
should never be lost sight of, and which every observant mind— 
when placed at the right focus—at once recognizes as the true 
foundation of all equitable life insurance, and that is—that all 
men of the same age have not the same rational expectation of 
life, neither have they an equal chance of dying, year by year, that 
the general average mortality tables would seem to show; that there 
is a natural selection and choice to be made among men of the same 
age; that some by a natural inheritance have a longer period of life 
than others, and notwithstanding temporary impairment will still 
continue to live beyond the average expectation of their age, while 
others, without any physical impairment, cannot, by any possibility, 
ever reach the average expectation period. This being a fact which 
must be admitted, and as all mankind will not and cannot be in- 
sured so as to make the general average plan tolerably safe, what 
other resource is left, unless these truths shall be accepted, and 
such methods sought as shall discover and adjust the premium rates 
to the various risks with equity and safety ? 
It is in view of these most important conditions that selection 
is to be made and the quality as well as the quantity (amount) of the 
risk to be estimated. To be able to mark out the distinctive lines of 
probable expectation, to judge of whatever impairment may have 
taken place, and adjust a corresponding premium rate, is in the 
highest sense the duty and prerogative of expert medical knowledge. 
Next to the fundamental error of conducting this business upon 
the “ general average plan” has been that of keeping its medical 
department in a subordinate position. That profession has not 
failed to recognize its true position, but the greed of speculation 
has so far succeeded in keeping it quiet. As a class medical men 
are not practical business managers ; their life studies lead them to 
shun the more busy marts, to hold out the helping hand, to suc- 
cor the weak, to protect the infirm, to sustain the depressed and 
desponding, and they are ever pushed to the wall when they come 
in contact with keen, sharp, unscrupulous speculation. But as 
he wrho lords it over his fellows in competitive business pursuits, or 
in the wild excitement of stock gambling, will certainly some day 
beseechingly call for his more humble and long suffering medical 
adviser for help from the effects of an overtaxed physical organiza- 
tion, so even now does the business of life insurance call upon its 6 
best friend for aid and counsel in its trembling, threatened apoplec- 
tic condition. 
That the medical department needs to be reorganized there is 
no question. But its reorganization will avail nothing compara- 
tively so long as the present methods of computing premiums and 
insuring lives upon the “general average” plan is persisted in. 
There must be a radical change in this respect or no equitable 
premium rate can be fixed. 
Life insurance, like every other business, must be conducted in 
equity, if it intends to be an honest business. Purely and simply 
it is a most beneficent institution, based not upon speculation nor 
chance; touching the hearts of men, it aggregates them together for 
the welfare of mankind; and for this reason, if for no other, its 
almost sacred character should induce greed and speculation to 
keep away their blood-stained hands; the higher moral attributes 
of man should alone be the custodian of the monies contributed 
for the future protection of the weak and dependent. 
Every means should be diligently sought and applied in the con- 
duct of the business that truth, honor, and equity demand, and 
when they are discovered and have been proved, ’twere worse than 
robbery to neglect their use. 
As a sufficient number of years have now elapsed to establish 
the fact that certain prescribed methods, with careful application of 
scientific facts have not only proved the doctrine of “ general aver- 
ages” fallacious, but have demonstrated practically that the business 
can be prosecuted safely, equitably, and successfully;—would it not 
be well to inquire what these methods are ? 
In the first place, (as it may have already suggested itself, during 
the reading of this paper), in every well organized company there 
should be a responsible, specially prepared, medical superior, holding 
equal authority and responsbility with any other of the executive 
officers. Upon his and their judgment should the proper premium 
rate be fixed upon each individual applicant according as his own 
individual characteristics may indicate his life’s expectation; his 
vitality and longevity, to wit: his viability. 
But it may be asked, how is this single fact to be arrived at, as 
men differ so much in kind and quality ? Certainly not by any 
general average of thousands upon thousands of the same age ; but 
by a close analyzation of all the facts and factors that pertain to 
this individual. There is the ancestral record; by it may be judged 
the average mortality age of his individual kind. He has inherited 
certain life processes which fix a term to his existence; he cannot 7 
live beyond them, he may shorten them. If he has done it, 
how and by what means? By dissipation, contracting incurable 
disease, overtasking his vital energies, dwelling in insalubrious dis- 
tricts, violating good sanitary laws, recklessness, useless exposure, 
or accident ? Each or all of these elements of impairment must be 
weighed and judged as to their relative or combined influence in 
shortening the natural life term of the applicant under observation. 
The preliminary step, then, should be to ascertain as far as it is 
possible from the ancestral family record of each person the ages of 
his living relatives, the ages of all who have died and of what dis- 
eases they died. This record should include the grand parents 
always, and as many of the Great Grandparents as any record can 
show. It is important also that these statistics should be clearly ob- 
tained on both paternal and maternal branches—such as uncles and 
aunts, brothers and sisters—giving their ages and conditions of 
health if living; if dead, age at death and cause of decease. So much 
of the details of the physical characteristics of each of those per- 
sons as it may be possible to get should also be recorded. 
We have now presented before us a series of lives through which 
and with which this one has many characteristics in common; he 
is after, and one of, that kind. Whatever of life is inheritable is 
here shown, whatever of inheritable disease he may or will have, 
if there has been any, will almost certainly appear somewhere in 
this record; and if there has been none, have we not the fact almost 
indubitably established that in him there will be none ; therefore 
there is very, very little risk in that direction. 
The next question in order is, naturally, the special constitution- 
al characteristics of the individual, whereby we may judge from 
which branch of the parental house he inherits his strongest via- 
bility peculiarities, etc. These, in detail, include height, weight, 
equipoise, and both a general and minute descriptive picture of his 
outer person. 
Habits, Vocation, Residence, Intelligence, past and present 
Health, and other incidental facts, such as army exposure, various 
residences that he may have had and their local diseases, injuries 
whether permanent or trivial, &c., the details of which for want of 
time are here omitted. 
To all these details which fully illustrate to a critical eye the life 
picture, as well as the inherent tendencies, are added a general de- 
scription of the person, giving his biometrical measures of the head, 
trunk, limbs, all of which form a complete record of the party. 
One accustomed to the analysis and synthesis of these elements of 8 
viability can readily form a very accurate judgment as to the proba- 
bility of any person’s life expectation. 
In view of these considerations, no right minded and true man 
can dispute the fact, which his own intuition teaches him, that he 
has within himself potentialities, governed by certain fixed laws, 
which give a period to his existence ;—that in some it is naturally 
shorter and in others naturally longer than the general average of 
all mankind. True, this vital principle governing his longevity 
may be so interfered with as to deprive him of its full influence, or 
the accidents of life may suddenly cut it short. The laws of lon- 
gevity being fixed, it is not a difficult matter, by the proper appli- 
cation of those laws, to estimate very closely the probable natural 
life expectation of any individual. 
The facts to which we here refer show that there is something 
behind and beyond the present physical condition which governs 
and regulates the viability, and which must be sought for in other 
directions than by listening to the heart and lungs, feeling the 
pulse, taking the measurements of the height, ascertaining the 
weight of the body, etc. Men have inherited vitalities, and diseases 
which are constitutional; have habits which effect, vocations which 
modify, residences which promote or destroy health; they may be 
robust or feeble; they have idiosyncrasies inherited or not, in- 
stincts and intuitions, all of which are indicated by signs and man- 
ifestations hung out upon the outer wall for our reading. 
The further problem then becomes reduced to the amount of 
impairment that may have supervened upon the proposed life, the 
effect of habits, or the accidental danger to which it may be subjected. 
It is the perfection of detail following the true principles of life- 
governing circumstances, that alone can produce signal success in 
this business. It is the application of the principles of biometry 
with reference to natural longevity, and of those of medical science 
with reference to unnatural impairments, and of the experience of 
statistical facts to life’s accidents, by the medical expert, that con- 
stitutes the working plan of all true life insurance, in the estima- 
tion of risks. 
The following practical illustrations will perhaps more clearly 
exhibit the true value and status of expert medical supervision, in 
estimating the probable life expectation, by which to fix a premium 
rate in any given case submitted for insurance. 
In order not tgirconfuse the mind with details, it will be perhaps 
sufficient that two extremes, exhibiting types of the best and the 
poorest cases insurable in ordinary average premium companies, 9 
should be used. Between these there exist every grade whose 
premium rate needs to be adjusted in accordance with the expecta- 
tion of the person, and which cannot—in justice either to the com- 
pany, its policyholders, or the applicant,—be adjusted by any gen- 
eral average table. 
“ Like begets like,” and to calculate that the longevity of a class 
of men will be greater than the average of its ancestors is erroneous 
and unsafe. Persons descended from short-lived ancestry cannot 
beget long-lived children, and persons descended from long-lived 
healthy ancestors are unquestionably entitled to the benefits of 
this ancestral inheritance which—if not impaired by disease, physi- 
cal defect, or excesses—most assuredly should place them in the 
superior grades, and entitle them to the lowest premiums. 
F. D. S.—Age 33—Married. 
Ancestral record: 
Paternal—Grandfather died at 90, old age. 
Grandmother died at 92, old age. 
Maternal—Grandfather died at 85, old age. 
Grandmother died at 80, old age. 
Father living at 73. Mother living at 70. 
Paternal—Uncles, 3, all living aged 62 to 70. 
Aunts, 1, dead ; age, don’t know. 
Maternal—Uncles, 3, living, aged 60 to 70. 
Aunts, 2, living, aged 60 to 66. 
Brothers—none. Sisters—4 living, aged 33 to 40. 
American. White. Good proportions. Compact. 
Height, 5 ft. 9 in. Weight, 175 lbs. 
Head, large, measures 5| in. through temporal fossae ; 5 in. from Naso- 
frontal articulation to orifice of ear. 
Nose, large, long, expanded nostrils. Lips, long, red. 
Trunk, large, long, measures 25 in. Shoulders, square. 
Chest, expansion 3 in., well developed, round, long. 
Abdomen, medium round ; girth, 35 in. Hips, broad. Back, straight. 
Limbs, medium size ; muscles, hard. Hair, brown, abundant, coarse. 
Beard, lighter, coarser. Eyes, hazel, straight. Complexion, dark, clear. 
Features, large, regular. Teeth, sound. Neck, medium. 
Has had diseases incident to childhood only. Vaccinated well. 
Vocation, Farmer. Born and always lived in Maine. 
Habits, correct and temperate, and always been so ; never drank any dis- 
tilled or fermented liquors ; is a free liver; bathe weekly ; give at- 
tention to ventilation, especially of sleeping room ; rise and retire 
regularly, early ; meals, regular ; use tea and coffee ; never use to- 
bacco in any form. Health is now perfect. 10 
Again,— J. A. A.—Age 21—Unmarried. 
Presenting nearly the same personal characteristics as F. D. S., except 
Height 5 ft. lOJin., Weight 163 lbs., having same head measurements, 
length and size of trunk, and in perfect health, gives the following 
Ancestral record: 
Great Grandparents were all of them over 90 years of age at death. 
Paternal—Grandfather living now, aged 70. 
Grandmother living now, aged 70. 
Maternal—Grandfather living now, aged 74. Father living, age 47. 
Grandmother living now, aged 74. Mother living, age 47. 
No Uncles or Aunts on Paternal side. 
Maternal—Uncles 6, all living, ages from 25 to 47. 
Aunts, 1 living, age 38. 
Brothers—2, aged 12, 21. Sisters—1, aged 23. 
In this case it may be observed there has not been a death in 
the three generations since the Great Great Grandparents, all of 
whom were over 90 years of age at death ; and in the first instance 
given it will also be noted that there was but one death since the 
grandparents, none of whom died under 80 years of age. 
In view of such records is it not a violation of common sense, 
and all sense of justice, to charge a premium to either one of these 
parties upon the basis of the average duration of all human life ? 
viz., at their actual age. Are they not entitled to a rebate on ac- 
count of superior Longevity, Habits, Physique, Health ? Most un- 
questionably. We will now present another illustration. 
F. E. P.—Age 24—Married. 
Ancestral record • 
Paternal—Grandfather died 83, gravel. 
Grandmother died 50, tumor. 
Maternal—Grandfather living, 73, health good. 
Grandmother living, 70, health good. 
Father living, 52. Mother living, 48. 
Paternal—Uncles, 4 living, 38 to 65 ; 2 dead, 3, 55. 
Aunts, 1 living, 40 ; 4 dead, 28 to 60. 
Maternal—Uncles, 3 living, 35 to 40 ; 1 dead, 20, fits. 
Aunts, 3, living, 28 to 40. 
Brothers—4 living, 11 to 19. Sisters—1 living, 9 ; 1 dead, 11, dropsy. 
American. Height, 5 ft. 6 in. Weight, 134 lbs. 
Head measures 5-J in., 4f in. Nose, medium. Lips, long, red. 
Trunk, medium long, measures 24 in. Shoulders, square. 
Chest, well developed, expansion 3 in. 
Abdomen, medium round ; girth, 32 in. Hips, medium. Back, straight. 
Limbs, medium ; muscles, hard. Hair, brown, curly. 11 
Beard, lighter, finer. Eyes, hazel, straight. Complexion, dark, clear. 
Features, medium, regular. Teeth, sound. 
Has had other diseases besides those of childhood. Vaccinated well. 
Vocation, meat market. Born in Maine, always lived there. 
Habits, correct and temperate ; use ale, have been intoxicated seldom, 
two years ago ; attend to ventilation of sleeping room ; rise and re- 
tire early ; active ; use tea and coffee, weak ; no tobacco in any 
form. 
Health, good ; had some rush of blood to head years ago, none for three 
years ; some kinds of food produce inconvenience, fresh fish ; have 
piles, bilious colic once or twice a year ; have chronic Bheumatism 
at times ; otherwise in good health. 
"We have here an example of fair ancestry, but with some con- 
stitutional impairment which crops out in his statements with re- 
gard to his own condition of health. In the account as posted up 
against him we find questionable points against Ancestry, Constitu- 
tion, Habits, Vocation, Health. These indicate the impairments 
natural and acquired, and all without a medical examination. 
Is it necessary to go farther ? cannot a medical or even a non- 
medical supervision decide with pretty accurate judgment that the 
risk in this case is almost dollar for dollar ? 
Other, though dissimilar cases, showing specially the tendency 
of ancestral inheritance : 
E. C. G.—Age 34—Married. 
Ancestral record: 
Paternal—Grandfather died 80, old age. 
Grandmother died 43, stoppage. 
Maternal—Grandfather died 50, consumption. 
Grandmother died, don’t know age or cause. 
Father living, 65, in good health. Mother dead, 45, stoppage. 
Paternal—Uncles, 4, living, 41 to 63. Aunts, 2, living, 60 and 30. 
Maternal—Uncles, 1 living, 55 ; 3 dead, 38—at sea, 50—consumption, 60 
—don’t know cause. 
Aunts, 1 living, 55; 2 dead, 45—consump., 35—result of a cold. 
Brothers—2 living, 38 ; 2 dead, 14—hip disease, 6 months—don’t know. 
Sisters—1 dead, 21—consumption ; 6 living, 28 to 50. 
American. Height, 5 ft. 11£ in. "Weight, 175 lbs. 
Head, measures 5f, 5. Nose, medium. Lips, middling long, thick, red. 
Trunk, medium long, measures 24f. Shoulders, sloping. 
Chest, medium ; expansion 3 in. Abdomen, medium broad ; girth, 35£. 
Hips, medium. Back, straight. Hair, Saxon, light, middling fine. 
Beard, darker. Eyes, light blue, straight. Complexion, fair, clear. 
Features, medium, regular. Teeth, sound. 
Has had fever and ague. Served in army 4 y’rs. Vocation, brick maker. 
Habits, correct and temp’te ; use tea and coffee ; smoke. Health, good. 12 
W. W. E.—age 25—Married. 
Ancestral Record: 
Paternal—Grandfather died at 70, don’t know cause. 
Grandmother died at 70, don’t know cause. 
Maternal—Grandfather died at 80, old age. 
Grandmother died at 40, consumption. 
Pather died at 58, liver complaint. Mother living at 60. 
Paternal—Uncles, 4 living, aged 50 to 60 ; 2 dead, 60—liver complaint, 
60—don’t know cause. Aunts, none. 
Maternal—Uncles, 1 dead, aged 45, fatty degeneration of heart. 
Aunts, 1 living, aged 70 ; 3 dead, consumption, aged 30 each. 
Brothers—3 living, 24 to 40. Sisters—2 living, 24, 30 ; 1 dead, (infant). 
American. Height, 5 feet 8 inches. Weight, 140 lbs. 
Head measures 5£ in., 4f in. Nose, medium. Lips, short, red. 
Teeth, good. Trunk, long, 25£ in.; measures 37£ in.; expan. 3} in. 
Chest, well developed, broad. Abdomen, 32 in. Back, straight. 
Muscles, hard. Fingers, well webbed. Foot, arched. 
Nails, slightly incurvated. Hair, brown, fine, abundant, Beard, lighter. 
Eyes, light blue. Complexion, fair. Diseases, incidental to childhood only. 
Habits, correct, temperate, use no spirits nor tobacco. 
Vocation, manufacturer of furniture. Born, and always lived, in Maine. 
Insured in two life companies. 
Remark by Medical Examiner:—This man has a splendid chest develop- 
ment, and no present indication of pulmonary diathesis. 
These two instances exhibit so great a tendency to inheritable 
or transmissible disease, as appears from the ancestral record, that 
it would be entirely unsafe for any company to insure them at actual 
age, and therefore they should be charged a premium in accordance 
with the unusual risk as estimated by the probably short expecta- 
tion of life in each case. Yet one of them says he is insured in two 
life companies. Good for him, but bad for the companies. 
It must not be understood that the ancestral record by itself is 
to be considered as the essential element in estimating a person’s 
life expectation. It simply exhibits the potential inheritable vital- 
ity. It may or may not have descended to the proponent. But it 
is one of the factors by which the individual constitutional charac- 
teristics are to be elucidated in the further study of the personal 
characteristics of the individual’s constitution. 
The complete study of an individual’s viability, or probable 
length of life, requires a farther consideration. 
Whether he has really inherited those constitutional character- 
istics inferable from his ancestry; whether, if possessed naturally, 
they have been continued, and whether they probably will be con- 
tinued in him or not. 13 
To judge of these facts requires a complete knowledge of his per- 
sonal peculiarities, his habits, vocation, residence, intelligence, in- 
stincts, past and present health, all of which must be particularly 
described to form a complete basis for a proper estimation of his 
own personal longevity. 
If proof is wanted of the practicability and successful applica- 
tion of these a priori principles, it is found in the uniform experi- 
ence during the past eight to nine years of our company, and 
which has been published in detail in the official annual reports. 
The number of death claims paid from Oct. 1, 1873, to Oct. 1, 
1874, was 12 ; being at the rate of 3.56 per thousand policies. This 
is slightly less than the death ratio (3.70) for the calendar year 1873. 
As indicated and prognosticated in my report to you at the 
Quarterly meeting, in April last, in the following language: 
“ I have now to add that the ‘ results ’ shown in my report in 
January have been continuous. During the past six months from 
Oct. 1st to April 1st inclusive, but five losses have occurred among 
all our policyholders numbering over 3,000.— 
“ Should this proportion continue to the end of the mortuary 
year (Sept.) we shall number one less than for the previous year, 
which was eleven, and two less than for the year 1872, which was 
twelve.”— 
This has been remarkably verified, as the proportion of losses 
for this year is less than those of last year, the number of policy- 
holders having considerably increased. 
This death ratio for the year ending Oct. 1, inst., is but another 
year’s corroboration of the true methods of grading and rating 
risks as practiced by this Company from its commencement; and 
shows conclusively the true function of intelligent Medical Super- 
vision on the basis of Biometrical science. 
The following article has just come to my notice : 
“ Mortuary Statistics of the Mutual Life, by the Medical Direc- 
tor, Dr. Isaac L. Kip,” in which the following extracts appear: 
“ During a period of ten years, fiom 1858 to 1868, the total number of 
deaths from all causes was 1,448, of which 114 were under 25 years of age, 
508 between 25 and 35, 615 between 35 and 50, 162 between 50 and 60, 
and 19 over 60. The deaths from consumption represented a total of 265, 
or a little over 18 per cent. ; 39 of the number were under 25 years of age, 
135 were between 25 and 35, 80 between 35 and 50, 10 between 50 and 60, 
and 1 over 60. It will thus be seen that more than half of the deaths 
from consumption occurred between the ages of 25 and 35, whereas nearly 14 
two-thirds of the deaths from other causes (705 out of 1,183) occurred 
after the 35th year. . 
“Continuing the investigation among the deaths from consumption, 
we find that in 60 instances—nearly 23 per cent.—the disease appears to 
have been hereditary, as ascertained by the data given in the original applica- 
tions for policies. * In one instance both parents and a brother had died of 
consumption ; in another, both parents ; in ten instances, a parent and a 
brother or sister ; in twenty instances, a parent; in eighteen instances, a 
brother or sister ; in nine instances, two or more brothers or sisters ; in 
one instance, two aunts. Of the remaining 205 cases, 6 had previously 
had ‘ spitting of blood;’ 4, ‘bronchitis;’ 2, ‘ slight cough ;’ 1, ‘asthma;’ 
1, ‘pneumonia;” 1, ‘chronic diarrhoea.’ 
“ The deaths from ‘ apoplexy ’ and ‘paralysis' numbered in all 195, or 
nearly 13 per cent, of the deaths from all causes. 8 were under 25 years 
of age, 49 between 25 and 35, 100 between 35 and 50, 33 between 50 and 
60, and 5 over 60. The only evidence of anything like an hereditary charac- 
ter in the disease lay in the fad that the same or allied diseases had carried off 
one or more members of the family in sixteen cases, (over 8 per cent.)" 
It may be observed just here, that no better illustration could 
be afforded than the fact that a want of proper medical supervision 
has resulted so disastrously in the enormous losses to the Mutual 
Company by hereditary and constitutional diseases. The remark 
that “ the only evidence of any thing like an hereditary character 
in the disease lay in the fact that the same or allied diseases had car- 
ried off one or more members of the family in 16 cases, (over 8 per 
cent.)” shows most conclusively the absence of proper Medical Su- 
pervision. 
The very circumstance which the writer expresses by the word 
“ only ” is one of the most important elements for careful observa- 
tion and study for the protection of Life ‘Insurance Companies in 
estimating any risk, or in judging of the probable chances of any 
person’s life expectation. 
The dangers of hereditary or constitutional diseases are very 
seldom discoverable by any Medical examination ; but must be 
sought for in the antecedents of any given case. 
The facts, so easily discoverable, under the circumstances “only” 
are those by observing which, the Medical supervision of the Amer- 
ican Popular succeeds by its methods in avoiding such useless 
losses. 
* The italics are ours. 15 
In the foregoing I have considered only those conditions antece- 
dent to and independent of the medical examination proper. This 
examination presents, when carefully filled out upon a proper blank, 
an almost complete medical and physiological history of the appli- 
cant ; it also affords an independent statement of facts, with which 
the interested statements of the applicant may be compared, and 
any error, intentional misrepresentation or falsification at once de- 
tected. 
This blank may be .filled up by any respectable physician, and, 
when considered in connection with all other information afforded 
by the applicant, and by his family physician’s and friend’s certifi- 
cates properly filled out, places in the hands of the chief medical 
officer such a combination of facts in regard to the party’s life his- 
tory, his antecedent inheritances respecting longevity and disease, 
etc., as afford an almost unerring basis upon which to form a judg- 
ment as to the true character of the proposed risk. 
What I wish to explain more particularly is that the applicant’s 
blank, carefully filled out in proper form, is quite as necessary, and, 
in fact, even more useful, than the Medical Examiner’s blank filled 
out by him. 
They are both pre-requisite to a perfect understanding of an 
applicant’s viability, and the proper rating of the risk ; but it is in 
the Applicant’s blank, rather than the Medical as usually found, 
that the greatest improvement is needed. 
Indeed the present Medical blank of most of the companies 
would do very well for its purpose, but the Applicant’s blank, as we 
usually see it, is very deficient in many important particulars. 
The Medical blank should be intended as only correlative to the 
Applicant’s blank, as indeed it must be. It can afford only such 
additional “ expert” knowledge of facts and conditions as an ap- 
plicant might overlook or be ignorant of, in regard to his physical or 
pathological characteristics. 
The chief prognostics of the viability of the healthy person must 
be found and can be found only in his own part of this application. 
The description of his ancestry and of himself to a great extent can 
only be furnished by him if it reaches the company through the 
Medical blank; it is a repetition of some of the facts in his 
blank for the purpose of comparison at the home office, while it 
should be fully and in every possible way impressed upon the appli- 
cant that he must be honest in his statements and replies, and in 
good faith answer all the questions put. 
It is found in practical experience that the Medical blank is cor- 16 
rected by the suggestions of the Applicant’s blank quite as often, 
nay oftener, than the latter is corrected by any information gained 
from the former. It is also found better, as a rule, to have all that 
can be stated by the applicant put down by him on his blank, thus 
fixing the responsibility for good faith upon him as far as possible; 
and this also saves the time of the Medical Examiner. Indeed, if 
the Applicant’s blank is properly drawn and filled out, giving all 
the details that the applicant can give about himself, it is seldom 
that anything can be added by the Medical Examiner in that re- 
spect. 
The Medical Examiner, in the case of most persons, must be 
considered in the light of a detective, concerning the truth or false- 
hood, good faith or deception, of the applicant, rather than as an 
original source of any useful information bearing upon the viability 
of the person. 
When we have the Biometrical measures of the applicant upon 
one page of his application, his ancestral record upon the second, 
and the points in regard to his Constitution, Habits, Vocation, 
Residence, Intelligence, Instincts, and Health, as given by himself, 
upon the third page, we find practically that it makes little differ- 
ence which one of the three we take as a guide; and although there 
is an advantage always in looking through them all, a risk being 
often times hinted on one which is not found on the other two, yet 
as a rule it is remarkable how nearly they agree in their teachings, 
often affording an entirely correct judgment upon one page alone. 
It is the medical expert (and he should be literally an expert in 
this matter of estimating viabilities by their signs and indications) 
who alone is competent to prepare and make up these blanks, and to 
supervise their rating when filled. A rating must be intelligently 
made in accordance with the characteristics of the individual, and 
not upon any uncertain assumption of actuaries, however mathe- 
matically demonstrated, since in that case the life of a company will 
demonstrate that figures do not always tell the truth. 
We may present this matter in brief thus : 
Correct Philosophy of Life 1 
Insurance, 
versus 
’ 
Incorrect Philosophy of 
Life Insurance. 
Individual rating, versus, General average rating. 
Medical supervision and 
judgment based upon 
the facts in each case. 
versus, 
Actuarial assumption based 
upon fatal errors, in- 
creasing with numbers. 17 
Absolute knowledge of the 
entire viability of a 
company’s risks, and, of 
course, of its security, 
Entire ignorance of the ag- 
gregate viability in a 
company, and, of course, 
of its security. 
versus, 
This plainly shows the importance of the Medical function in the 
Home Office of a Life Insurance Company, that it is not secondary, 
but that it is the prime element of security, as well as of equity and 
economy, and that the careful, intelligent medical prognosis of pro- 
posed risks, and their equitable rating, is the foundation of success- 
ful business. 
It has been said, and sometimes with a sneer, that the Company 
with which I have the honor to be associated is “ a doctors’ Com- 
pany,” meaning that It is managed by doctors. 
For one I am proud of the epithet. It is an omen, a promise of 
success; and the results of its methods and medical supervision have 
already created astonishment in the insurance world, and also in the 
world of science and practical life; it is an omen in a broad, grand, 
and high sense; it indicates that the Company will prove the means 
of developing the true methods of Life Insurance to a degree still 
higher than has yet been done, although we are proud to believe 
that much has already been accomplished. 
But I hope that we may be so far appreciated that you will be- 
lieve that this pride is not selfishness, but that it is chiefly felt on 
account of the relations which our work may justly be said to have 
in promoting the great cause of humanity. To our Directors and to the Public: 
CONFIRMATORY EVIDENCE 
OF THE VALUE OF 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION. 
By the President, (T. S. Lambert, M.D.,) 
of THE 
AMERICAN POPULAR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. 
Since the Report of Dr. Moreau Morris, our Surgeon-in-Chief, was in 
type, our attention has been called to a document issued from the Home 
office of one of the oldest, the largest, and, with perhaps a single excep- 
tion, the best of the old plan companies ; the full board of Trustees be- 
ing named upon one of its initial pages as sponsors for its contents. 
We desire here to call attention only to one page of that very remark- 
able issue, and to make some illustrative remarks thereon, for three rea- 
sons. 
First, It forms an excellent text for giving point to the Report of Dr. 
Morris, or it may be called an apt illustration of the truth of what he 
says. 
Second, We have the right to constantly assert and illustrate the pre- 
cedence of this company in taking the only proper course (not merely the 
only approximately proper course,) in the initial work of doing life insur- 
ance by the application of the principles of Biometry, which are not only 
the basis of all correct life insurance, but equally are the foundations of 
all vital science ; upon which the correct theory and practice of medicine 
must be established—and not less may be said of every department of 
practical life,—and which, when understood, will entirely revolutionize 
theories and practices grown musty with age, as well as those of a more 
modern inception. 
Third, We are in duty bound to make known the truth which is in us, 
and to shed light upon the insurance work of the world, according to the 
great energy which we attain by being indoctrinated with correct princi- 
ples, and made to feel forceful and sure of their value, by the results of 
their application constantly under our observation. 2 
That to which we wish to call attention reads as follows : 
* ‘ How to proceed in effecting insurance : 
1. “ It is necessary in order to decide upon risks offered * * that a 
statement of the applicant’s physical condition, and his family record of 
health and longevity, should be placed on file in the office. * * A form 
will be furnished * * . 
2. “A medical examination by a physician appointed by the company 
is the next step * * who seeks to ascertain the past record and present 
state of health of the applicant * * . 
3. “The certificate of the Medical examiner, together with the ap- 
proval or disapproval of the President or Vice-president, closes the mat- 
ter as far as the applicant is concerned.” 
Remarks— 
Under such a method as this, necessarily, there will be many death 
losses upon those who should not be insured at the ordinary premium of 
the actual age. 
Neither the President nor the Vice-president will be responsible for 
the admission of many risks certain—when insured—to prove a loss 
to the company, an unnecessary burden to the best risks insured at the 
same premiums ; for neither of those officials are medical men, much less 
medical insurance experts, being merely laymen, good experts in judging 
of risks of loans upon estates, bonds, etc., but not judges of life proba- 
bilities. 
The general medical examiners must not be held responsible in the 
present status of medical science and instruction, for not one doctor in a 
thousand is an expert in regard to all the indications of the probabilities 
of length of life ; nor can even recognize them, much less measure them 
and the life potentialities to which they are related. This cannot be ex- 
pected of even one in a thousand, and since it is not necessary, it should 
not be demanded. 
The chief medical examiner in the home office of that company is a 
gentleman of marked ability, and a scholar in his profession, and, to a 
large degree at least, a medical insurance expert, yet he cannot be held 
responsible for the result of work in which, according to the quotation, 
he is not expected to have any hand. He does not appear to be as he 
ought to be, an essential factor in the ordinary insurance business of 
the Company. 
The applicant cannot be held responsible, since he can only answer 
truthfully (if honest) such questions as the blank indicates. 3 
Upon whom then must the responsibility of many of the unnecessary 
losses devolve ? 
Formally upon the trustees who permit such an organization and di- 
vision of the labor and of the salaries as are found in that Company ; or 
if it is thought thijt the present executive officials have no more salary 
than they should have; the company would make money by losses saved 
if it should increase the duties, the responsibility, and the salary of the 
home medical examiner to those of a medical supervisor, and made equal, 
if not superior to any other official. 
But the trustees may with plausibility pass down the responsibility in 
this mutual company to the insured who (or whose proxies !) elected 
the trustees, since these, doubtless, truly represent their constituents, ex- 
pecting such an organization as they have, especially as most of those 
constituents went into the company after it was organized. 
Indeed, how could anything better be expected when ignorance of life 
insurance principles, and actuarial mysticism and assumptions in place of 
science was universal previous to the establishment of the American Pop- 
ular and to the enunciation of the principles of Biometry (the science and 
art of measuring the probable length of any person’s life,) as the correct 
basis of life insurance, as well as of whatsoever else is related to life. 
The grand weakness of the old plan of doing life insurance business as 
pointed out so clearly by our Surgeon-in-chief, in his report, is remarka- 
bly illustrated by the extract above quoted. 
Suppose that doctors who were remarkable for their skill and medical 
ability should be appointed to the work of valuing property and locating 
funds, would there not be many unnecessary losses ? What else can be 
expected if lawyers and general business men manage the business of life 
insurance, which is essentially a department of applied physiology and 
pathology. 
That the view which this company takes, and which its “experience” 
and the Report of Dr. Morris so clearly sustain, is correct, is conclusively 
proved by an extract from another document from the home-office senior 
medical examiner of that company, quoted by Dr. Morris—“ Among the 
deaths from consumption we find that in 60 cases—nearly 23 per cent.— 
the disease appears to have been hereditary, as ascertained by the data 
given in the original application for policies.” 
This does not prove want of scientific skill, nor of conscience in the 
numerous examiners who “passed ” those cases ; nor that the executive 
officials were remiss ; nor that all those applicants were dishonest; but it 4 
does prove that a medical expert in the home office of that company can 
now, and could when the risks were insured, determine that they were 
hazardous from the “ data furnished by the applicants,” even in such com- 
paratively barren blanks as those used by that company. 
This also proves that such a degree of expertness is not essential in the 
general examiner ; it is needed only by the home medical examiner, made 
Medical Supervisor, or Surgeon-in-Chief, as our Directors have chosen to 
designate that official, who stands equal in rank, in emoluments, and in 
authority, and consequently of responsibility to any other one of the Ex- 
ecutive Board. 
We also wish to suggest that although the extract above quoted does 
not point directly, it does indirectly to the fact that Dr. Morris has 
proved : that the “ Medical expert ” is the proper expert to cast the ques- 
tions and blanks in regard to the data essential to insurability, as well as 
to deduce from them—when filled—the measure of life indicated. 
Upon these two points we would fix earnest attention ; they are the 
sheet anchors of correct life insurance. 
The “ medical insurance expert ” must be held responsible for framing 
all the Biometrical questions of all the blanks ; also responsible for the 
judgment upon the meaning, latent and active, of the answers, and that 
there may be the fewest errors, a double, or even triple, conning of these 
answers, and of the deductions by two or three well qualified persons, two 
medical and one layman is advisable; then may the medical home 
expert department be justly held responsible for all unnecessary death 
losses, not being excused by any actuarial general average assumption, 
but held for not prevising them by a judgment based upon the facts of 
the lives, their nature, inheritances, liabilities, etc., as to be found in each 
case when insured. 
We deem these ideas so fully determined as true, and of such very 
grave importance as well as interest to all concerned in life insurance, 
either as makers or takers,—and noticing that riiany insurers seem to 
be honestly desirous of improving their business by diminishing the death 
losses, yet, not understanding the true philosophy, are looking the wrong 
way for their salvation,—we shall be excused for taking the opportunity 
urged upon us by the two extracts quoted to prove by undeniable facts 
and logical deductions the validity and great value of the positions taken 
by this company, with the hope that many will be induced to inquire into 
them fully by reading the documents in which they are fully exhibited. 
A little knowledge of the facts will relieve us of any imputation of 5 
wishing to give an adulatory puff to our own company by making invid- 
ious comparisons, and of arrogantly making a profession of benevolence 
toward other companies. 
We are pecuniarily interested in having the business of life insurance 
conducted rightly, both so that the companies shall not fail and disap- 
point the insured, nor succeed by such inequities as will disgust them. 
If the companies do not understand how to select the grades of risks, 
such as they desire to insure, they will disaffect by the great inequity of 
insuring very dissimilar risks at the same premiums, while this will also 
certainly soon bring failure. Both these facts bring discredit upon the 
entire business, even involving this company, although so different from 
others in these respects that it ought to escape the odium. 
It also results to our Company in this wise at present. We hold 
that quite various grades are perfectly insurable, but at equally variable 
premiums ; and although we prefer the best grades as affording by their 
better lives, better sustained policies, we are willing and desirous to in- 
sure the other insurable grades at an adequate premium. This we cannot 
often do now, for there is a large number of applicants who, if we charge 
what it is really worth to insure them, put their thumbs to their noses 
and say “we will go where it does not cost more to insure us than 
it does to insure any one at our ages ; we guess those companies will live 
longer than we shall.” We thus lose our labor, while those who insure 
them at ordinary rates lose their labor and a great deal of money besides, 
which equitably belongs to the better grades. Mark that we do not here 
refer to those who are unsound or very poor sound risks, nor to any who 
are rejected by the average plan companies, but we refer to those which 
any of them do take, although at least somewhat below the average, and 
we also refer in particular to those “ pretty good cases ” which though not 
below the average are not up to the best grades, and which may properly 
be insured at not very much increased premiums. 
If any of the companies wish to insure—as some of them say they 
do—only the best risks, it is for our interest to show them how to accom- 
plish that which they wish to do. If any companies willingly insure in- 
ferior risks at the ordinary table rates, thinking that each one counts as 
so much more business, and hoping that there will be insured a sufficient 
number of superior risks to make good the losses by the inferior, it is our 
interest to show them that an increase of business that does not cover its 
cost is the worst form of a losing business, and one which no company 
can afford to do. 6 
That many inferior risks are daily insured either because their inferi- 
ority is not understood, or because they are foolishly thought to swell 
business, wo have daily occasion to notice, as Dr. Moreau Morris has 
truthfully said— 
For we have occasion to rate many at a high premium who state in 
their application that they are already insured ; others, thus rated, not 
elsewhere insured, go straightway and get insured elsewhere. 
We also have the opportunity of observing that the cases brought or 
sent to us by the agents of other companies as rejected by them are so 
desperately inferior that it wrould appear the extreme of folly in any agent 
to expend a moment’s time over them. We never have any such present- 
ed to us that we should not place at a higher premium than any in our 
fourth class, which marks a higher premium than any one will pay. As 
we do not have any such candidates who wrill rank in our second or third 
classes, we conclude that risks corresponding to the grades of our second 
and third—and even fourth—classes, have no trouble in being insured at 
ordinary rates in other companies. We are also persuaded of this be- 
cause the ratio of deaths in the other companies averages, in the aggre- 
gate, the ratio in our third and fourth classes united. 
For example, we find this year that the death loss ratio to our whole 
number of policies, including all our grades, is but 3.6 deaths per thou- 
sand, while in our six best grades, grouped to produce our best class, the 
deaths have not equaled one (1) death per thousand. These grades, as we 
have shown include most (-§) of our insured, and when the deaths in the 
remainder are ratioed, the ratio is nearly as large as those of the average 
of the companies :—our aggregate of losses ought to be and would be as 
large as the average in other companies, if we insured as many in our in- 
ferior sound classes as we do in our first and second ; this would not be 
contrary to, but in accordance with, our correct principles, since each of 
the grades would be insured at a correlative premium—which, when large, 
as we have said, we cannot now often obtain, such applicants turning from 
our just premiums to seek those which are unjust because too small for 
their risks ; so that this company has to be content with doing business 
almost exclusively with the very best grades. 
This is expensive to the other companies and not fair to this, and if 
any of them complain that our insured do not die as fast as the tables re- 
quire, it is their fault, not ours. 
We wish, therefore, to decidedly correct one erroneous impression that 
most agents unacquainted with us have. They apparently think that be- 7 
cause we offer to insure any one, we have such a hankering after business 
that we jump at the chance of insuring the cast-offs of other companies at 
a premium insignificant compared with the real cost. Such agents come 
but once on such an errand, going away with the idea that if they have 
any extra good cases, our company is just the place for them, but if the 
cases are at all inferior to, or even merely at an average grade, any other 
company will bite at the bait quicker than the American Popular. It 
has no desire to do any business that is likely not to pay, and has simple 
but efficient methods, almost infallible, of measuring the correct equiva- 
lent premium for any life risk, to which it always adds a little margin for 
a profit. 
Its delight is to find applicants with the best of Ancestry, Constitu- 
tions, Habits, Vocation, Residence, Intelligence, Instincts, Health, and 
Age, who wish to look into the matter, make sure they are right, then go 
ahead. To such best grades it can afford premiums so low that they 
can well afford to take out policies fully protecting their families, and giv- 
ing to themselves entire freedom from anxiety of mind on account of any 
financial effect upon their families in case-of their own decease. 
This also produces security, doubly secure, since this company makes 
to all other grades a premium entirely adequate to the probable cost of 
each, according to the individual character of each risk indicated by the 
reliable scientific application of the principles of Biometry. 
This application, made through the instrumentality of correct med- 
ical supervision as distinguished by Dr. Morris from the old and yet com- 
mon method of “ medical selection ” enables this company to present for 
patronage, with entire security, the economical and equitable form of 
TERM-LIFE (Labor-Term) INSURANCE, “NATURAL PREMIUMS.” 
Some of the leading companies of the old plan, indeed the “oldest 
and largest ” of them all, as some of its exponents are in the habit of say- 
ing, assert that it cannot afford to transact this best of all forms of poli- 
cies, since it found that level term premiums did not cover the cost of 
term policies, a larger proportion of those who desired such policies 
dying than in case of those who chose whole life policies. Such has not 
been the experience of this company, which has a smaller proportion of 
losses among its term-life insurers than among others. It is not the cus- 
tom of this company’s medical supervision to grant policies merely ac- 
cording to the selection of the applicant, or rather it is its custom to 
make the premium, among other things, according to the reason of his 
desire—and to find out that reason is one important point, and not only 8 
the reason but, if that is wanting, the instinct that induces the desire ;— 
perchance it is excited in that wray. In other words, as our medical su- 
pervision deals in life properties and probabilities, it is its business to un- 
derstand its business, and to be able to judge correctly of what it is doing, 
or to let it alone ; in the same manner as a lawyer who proposes to advise 
in the transfers of estates should be posted in all that pertains to that 
branch, or he will cause the losing of money to his clients and of reputa- 
tion to himself. 
This point, to wit, of being able to do a safe 
TERM-LIFE (Labor-Term) INSURANCE BUSINESS, 
“NATURAL PREMIUMS,” 
is a matter of great importance to the probably long-lived and strong- 
lived ; since it enables this company to offer to them insurance fully pro- 
tecting their families, at a remarkably small figure, during the entire per- 
iod in the course of which their decease will be likely to financially em- 
barrass their families. 
In our best grades the deaths have been less than one (1) per year per 
thousand policies for nine years ! The average death losses in all the 
other companies last year was twelve (12). That makes the death cost, 
or net premium, in other companies, twelve times as much as it is in the 
best grades in the AMERICAN POPULAR LIFE. And this state of 
things has continued for nine years ! since our origin ; growing worse in 
all other companies from year to year, but rather improving than re- 
trograding in the best grades of this company. 
That is, the death cost to the best grades in the American Popular up- 
on twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) is not so much as it is upon one 
thousand ($1,000) in the other companies averaged !—or the American Pop- 
ular can afford to make for its best grades an assurance for one hundred and 
twenty thousand dollars ($120,000)—at a net premium lower than the other 
companies can average for only ten thousand dollars ($10,000) assurance. 
Is not this plain enough proof of the value of medical supervision to 
the probably long-lived, to wit, the best grades ? 
Our practical gross premiums do not of course show so large a differ- 
ence in our favor, yet they are so striking as to quite captivate the best 
grade risks. 
But we must not overlook another very great advantage of “ medical 
supervision.” 
If properly transacted, it relieves the medical examiner of much very 
embarrassing responsibility, which he should not have. He is not usually 9 
qualified, nor need he be, to “pass” an applicant as insurable; this depends 
upon premiums paid as -well as upon physical condition. He should not 
have the “ applicant’s statement ” to the company before him, either to 
bias him or to incline him—certainly not to allow him to make his own 
account tally with the other. His examination and report should be inde- 
pendent, and not seen nor known by any one except himself and the 
medical supervisor or Surgeon-in-Chief at the home office. 
Some physicians will not examine for insurance lest they offend the 
applicant. Many have found that they offended agents who knew their 
skill and candor. All this unpleasantness is avoided by proper supervis- 
ion. Then the examiner is only asked for facts, and not for his opinions. 
But it is equally important that all temptation to collusion with an ap- 
plicant, or with an agent, should be avoided. Most of both are honest, 
but many of the former, and some of the latter, are not, and some others 
who intend to be so in a general way, have a lax view of things when an 
insurance company is on one side and their own interests, as they think, 
on the other. It is a fact that many persons of a very fair character, as 
the world thinks, will try to get insured upon a different basis from that 
of the truth, and there is here and there a physician who is just as willing 
to help, if he thinks it will pay, as he is to allow a man to die rather 
than confess ignorance and have another doctor called. 
A large majority of medical men are honest, a large majority of agents 
are honest, and a large majority of applicants are honest,—yet the several 
insurance companies of New York City pay out more than a millon of 
dollars each year on account of the dishonesty of each of these classes,— 
not less than three millions per year taken out of honest insurers by dis- 
honest ones,—much of which could readily be saved when the claim is 
made, were it not that the companies are afraid that the honest insured 
will be alarmed if such a searching inquest into cases is made as the ex- 
tent of the evil demands. The companies are beginning to change their 
minds upon this matter. It is high time ; the loss to the honest is im- 
mense by the tricks and deceptions of the dishonest among agents, ex- 
aminers, and policy applicants. 
The Reports show that oyer thirteen millions of dollars were paid by 
the New York companies for death loss claims last year. Now one official 
of one company says that in his judgment two-fifths at least, and perhaps 
three-fifths, of the losses paid by his company were upon risks which 
should never have been insured, and two-fiftlis at least were absolutely 
frauds. He is a fair man, and his opinion, without doubt, is correct; and 
it is also a fair view of the aggregate payment of the companies. 10 
By that standard more than five millions have been wrongly paid out— 
an enormous amount. Indeed it would appear that as the matter has been 
managed the sacred institution of life insurance has been a grand encour- 
agement of frauds—inducing them by offering easy methods of making 
them and then aiding in covering them, and rewarding them by paying 
frauds without contesting them. An agent takes an application, he selects 
an examiner, shows him what is said upon applicant’s blank, aids in mak- 
ing medical examination, receives premiums, notifies the company of the 
death, receives blank proofs of loss, kindly aids in filling them—especially 
the medical one, which perchance is by the same doctor who examined 
the party for insurance,—receives the assurance from the company, pays 
it to the widow with her thanks and a testimonial to the promptness of 
the company and to the sympathizing kindness of the agent. Is this 
right ? Will it not encourage fraud ? Could anything be devised better 
adapted to the purpose if the object was to encourage frauds'? 
It is at least advisable, as all must admit, to prevent, as far as possible, 
the dishonest from obtaining admission to a company. “ Medical Super- 
vision,” in the sense meant by Dr. Morris, is admirably adapted to ac- 
complish this object. Let us then have it by all means, and save some of 
the millions now so deleteriously permitted to be fraudulently obtained, 
and what is of equal if not greater importance, prevent the discredit, to 
the great cause, which is now inflicted upon it, and on account of which 
this company suffers in common with those through which the disgrace 
has been brought. 
REMARKS BY W. H. DWINELLE, M. B., 
(one of the directors .) 
Following the Report of Dr. Moreau Morris, at the quarterly meeting of 
the Board of Directors, Oct. 28, 1874. 
Dr. Dwindle having just returned from Europe where he interested 
lnmself somewhat in insurance as there found, being called upon, made 
an able and interesting address supporting the views advanced by Dr. 
Morris, and giving at some length the results of his experience, especially 
in London. He spoke as follows : 
On presenting our distinctive ideas, I found that the plans of our com- 
pany had already been noticed and that their astonishing results had be- 
wildered those familiar only with the notions of insurance heretofore 11 
recognized. Many wlio were at first inclined to regard them as visionary, 
or even to treat them as absurd, were afterward eager for information, 
who, admitting and accepting the views expressed as good and incontro- 
vertible doctrine, verified the adage that “ Those who came to scoff re- 
mained to pray.” 
Some believed, or affected to believe, that our success was due to ex- 
traordinary gifts on the part of the founders and officers of the company. 
I explained to them the principles of Biometry. That God Almighty has 
written on each one’s personal constitution the record and indications of 
his viability,—that these characteristics have been transmitted to them by 
a law that cannot be contravened, from an ancestry who have set their seal 
upon the coming generations,—that all these indications are so readily re- 
cognized through the teaching of Biometry that any one of fair education 
and common sense may, in a reasonable time, become a practical expert 
in everything that pertains to our peculiar system ;—indeed that our pres- 
ent officers have such confidence in the progress of ideas that they believe 
those who succeed them will be superior to their predecessors. 
The principle of life is the grand foundation of all things, the centre 
and source of all energy, and the laws of life properly understood en- 
shrine all knowledge. This science and its application reaches out into 
every department of human activity, and the fundamental ideas which 
our company represents, and by which it is governed in its work, underlie 
all that is valuable in human affairs. 
The science of Biometry is to revolutionize the whole system of med- 
icine. This is the foundation. It will revolutionize commerce and all 
the industries of life. It will furnish new data for the solution of many 
scientific questions that now perplex and baffle the wisest. In the selec- 
tion of a partner in business, attention to its revealings will prevent many 
a ship-wreck of fortune, by the wise selection of co-workers whose early 
efforts and promise will not be likely to be cut off by early death. In 
forming matrimonial alliances, an intelligent and conscientious regard to 
the law of transmission of inheritable tendencies, (nay certainties), for 
weal or woe, will cause many a man and woman to make blind sentiment 
and passion wait upon sober judgment, lest the pathway which they pro- 
pose to tread may lead to consequences of inestimable sorrow, or taint 
their sanguinary “ strain ” forever. 
(He also remarked at length upon interviews with a number of lead- 
ing physicians, and detailed the surprise, and at length the admiration 
with which they listened to even a fragmentary presentation of these high 12 
truths which it has been the prerogative and the good fortune of the 
American Popular to promulgate.) 
I reminded them that the conventional “ dose for a child or an adult ” 
is administered irrespective of any consideratian of the patient’s tradi- 
tions, or his inheritance of long or short life ; and with most practition- 
ers, the questions :—what are his legitimate forces, what his powers of re- 
sistance or endurance, what his biometrical tendencies, or what his ances- 
tral record, and his reasonable life expectancy, never enters as an element 
into their considerations. That the long-lived and the short-lived are 
treated alike when affected by the same named disease—the strong man in 
the meridian of his life period and the short-lived at his inevitable final 
hour are treated to the same dose, both unnecessary, since one will surely 
live and the other will surely die. And the fact that the long-lived are 
comparatively exempt from a certain class of diseases, and are affected 
but slightly by others, that by their superior inherent forces they will re- 
sist all diseases—rise above them, and as a rule die of old age, is rarely 
ever taken into consideration in estimating what is or what is not neces- 
sary for the advantage of such patients. 
The study of vital forces is the key to unlock nature’s mysteries. 
Referring to the two ideas of grading and of Term-Life, I found in- 
telligent fire insurance underwriters, and some life managers opening their 
minds to give assent to the equity, security, and simplicity of the ideas 
we present in regard to grading lives, &c. 
In reply to those who spoke flippantly of the danger that the science 
and its application would be as lost arts when the present skill that inter- 
prets and manages them has passed away, I showed that the simplicity of 
these principles was correlative to their truth, and that all analogy of hu- 
man progress and scientific achievement went to show that others must 
come after us who shall extend and carry out to still more grand and far- 
reaching results, these vital truths, that are yet, however perfect and val- 
uable they may seem, but in the infancy of their development; I do not 
count that they have more than entered the road to their grand triumph. 
[With a brilliant review and illustration of the law of classification 
and differentiation in nature, the analogy of the same principles in the 
determination and measure of human qualities was forcefully set forth.] 13 
. ([As the idea that our officers have some special art or skill which will 
die with them, mentioned by Dr. Dwinelle, has been made quite common 
in this country also,—invented and used by our so-called competitors as 
an objection to this company,—we insert the following :— 
COMPLIMENT 
(From the Insurance World,) 
TO THE PECULIARITIES OF THE 
AMERICAN POPULAR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. 
SOUND LOGIC. 
“The American Popular Life Insurance Co., through Dr. Lambert, 
its popular exponent, has issued an address upon the subject of insurance 
which contains much of real sound logic. It enters into a detail of the 
difference between its own plan of life insurance and that adopted by the 
companies, which it characterizes as the issue of ‘ one versus one hundred 
companies in respect to simplicity, objects, principles, methods, utilities, 
and consequent attendants. ’ 
“Dr. Lambert unquestionably indulges in peculiar views in reference 
to life insurance, and although we are not prepared to say with him that 
all the world is wrong in this path of doctrine and that he is right, there is 
so much reason and good intention and ultimate benefit in his arguments, 
that we cannot refuse to see errors in the system of life insurance of 
which it might be purged, in relation to which we make the following ex- 
tract upon the subject of medical examinations : 
‘ ‘ ‘ "While the ‘ old plan ’ companies are thinking to rely chiefly upon 
their ‘ medical examinations ’ and blaming their ‘ examiners ’ for their ‘ ill 
luck’ (?), this company finds its chief reliance upon the ‘preliminary’ 
which is seldom affected by the after testimony of the friend’s, family 
physician’s, or medical examiners’s certificates. We do not ask the ‘ex- 
aminer, ’ as they do, for his opinion, but for the facts in the case, so far as 
his blank goes. We compare the whole of the testimony. He cannot be 
expected to be an expert in judging of the viability of the party. He is 
an expert in regard to what we ask him, which is only a partoi the whole. 
We are the experts in regard to the whole. The medical examinations of 
the ‘ old plan ’ companies against which they insinuate so much are truly 
the best part of their case, and save them many losses. Their ‘ medicals ’ 
are well enough usually, that is not the point; they need more than it is 
the true sphere of the * medical expert ’—in making physical explorations 
—to seek. They need all the facts of the person’s history, and those of 
his ancestors, all his essential measures, and they need to know how to 
use these facts, not according to actuarial ‘ averages, ’ but according to 
their individual viability value. ’ 
“‘In proof that our course is right, we proudly offer the mortality 
‘ experience ’ of this company. The like has been unknown before in the 
history of the world, demonstrating the fundamental principles of the 
company to be true. Our company last year had less than four deaths 
per thousand insured, while the average of all the ‘ old plan ’ companies 
was nearly twelve deaths per thousand insured. ’ ” 14 
The Insurance World having had the good will to say the pleasant 
things quoted above about the American Popular and its President, at- 
tributing to him—as he thought—more than is his due, he addressed the 
following polite note to the Editor, with the intent of placing several mat- 
ters in the right light. 
Editor Insurance World : 
Dear Sir,—In your September number you took occasion to say some 
very kind words of Dr. Lambert; for which I very much thank you. It is 
not fair to others, however, for me to allow this occasion to pass without 
saying to you, and, with your permission, to your numerous (I hope) 
readers, that Dr. Lambert is not entitled to all the credit which you be- 
stow upon him. The brains of others have been busy upon the same 
problems, and have helped to work them out. It will not be egotistic to 
allow that he has done more than any one person, but alone he could not 
have evolved what the work of all in the Company has been essential to 
performing. 
As long as the matter was in the least doubtful, I was willing to be the 
only target of fools and fogies, but now that a splendid success has been 
achieved, I insist upon having the credit shared among those who, by 
the sweat of their brows, have earned it. 
Each and every official (with one exception) ever connected with the 
Company is entitled to a vote of thanks from the public for the original 
ideas that he has given towards the development and demonstration of 
the great practical truths that this Company has been the means of pre- 
senting to the world. 
The Directors also, one and all, and the Stockholders, should not be 
forgotten, for they gave faith not only to the enterprise when most were 
sceptical, but they proved their faith by their money, a solid and sub- 
stantial evidence of their determination to sustain our effort to the bitter 
end, or to the glorious fruition which is now crowning our work. 
Some have passed away from earth, and some others of them, after see- 
ing us on the way, and watching over our welfare while we needed their 
influence, have given into other hands their labor of love which they 
enlisted to perform. But their names are engrossed deep down in the 
foundation of our enterprise, and they must forever share the honor which 
they helped to build. 
In proof of this I have pleasure in sending to you the advanced sheets 
of the Report of Dr. Moreau Morris, our Surgeon-in-Cliief, one of the 
most interesting documents ever produced for Insurance men to read. 
You will notice with pleasant surprise that during the year past we 
have lost by death only three and six-tenths claims per thousand policies. 
That is one-tenth less deaths than ever before, since our second year, and 
as the claims correspond to the number of deaths, there will be a great 
decrease in the ratio published in the Reports, which last year charged us 
with seven claims upon two deaths. 
You will please remember that these ratios in this case are upon all 15 
of our grades collectively. In tlie “ best grades ” the ratio is very much 
less. Indeed in our “best six grades,” which are grouped together to 
form our “best class,” the death ratio has been less than one per thou- 
sand policies per year since our origin, eight years since, reducing the 
net or death cost to our “best grades” to a merely nominal sum ; so that 
by using our “Term-Life” (labor-term) “Natural-Premiums” form of in- 
surance, such “best risks” can afford to fully protect their families not 
otherwise protected in case of the death of their bread-winner—that is 
can afford to assure such an amount that in case of death before their 
families are otherwise protected, the interest of said amount shall yield 
to the family the same income that they enjoy from the labor of the 
insured. 
It is no wonder that those who used to pooh-pooh Dr. Lambert, and 
the American Popular,—saying “ It is not practical,” “There is nothing 
; in it,”—should now be saying “Well, there is something in it, we cannot 
tell what, exactly,—we wish we knew ; but when Dr. Lambert is gone, 
and he cannot last forever, no one else can keep up the plan.” These 
precise words were spoken by the leading official of one company, and 
are, to speak crudely, just so much bosh. 
The principles and methods that we work are perfectly simple, and 
will be better worked when Dr. Lambert is dead and gone than during 
his life. It is a sure thing, and those who are hoping that he will soon die 
and leave them in peace to grow fat over their average plans, will be more 
disappointed than ever. There are those in the Company now who can 
work it better than he can ; and he understands fully, and he wishes to 
have others understand, that he is retained in his place chiefly for the 
good that he has done, and certainly not because he is now an essential 
spoke in the wheel. 
In proof of this I submit, that among our entrants during three years, 
all graded and rated by our present Surgeon-in-Cliief, Dr. Moreau Morris, 
then entirely new to this specialty, only one has died, and from inciden- 
tal disease, while, according to the “experience” of the best old plan 
companies, we were entitled to fifteen to twenty-five deaths ; a saving to 
this company of thirty to fifty thousand dollars losses on these alone. 
This fact, so surprising to those who do not understand the simplicity 
and reliability of the principles of Biometry and their application, dem- 
onstrates what I say, that in from three to six months study and practice 
under our methods of medical supervision, any well educated medical man, 
having a natural aptitude for this specialty, can become an expert in it. 
The great losses of the companies generally are, therefore, unnecessary, 
and inexcusable by the probably long lived. 
Again thanking you for the kindness you bestowed, permit me to 
repay your politeness whenever I can serve you. 
Bespectfully, 
T. S. Lambert, M. D., 
President. “ Life Insurance is a humbug, 
a swindle 
“Life Insurance is the greatest 
blessing ever invented.” 
Can Both be True ? Yes. 
“ How can that be ?” 
Ordinary so-called life insurance, at best, 
is very ; usually for the most part 
speculative, gambling, and deceptive, and has 
no right to be called by that name, which it 
has disgraced. 
True, pure Life Insurance is equitable, 
the best means of relieving anxiety, giving a 
peaceful mind in regard to the pecuniary pro- 
tection of a family, and worth much mere 
than the cost to the probably Long-lived. 
The Insurance Journal of Hartford says, 
“In Illinois the death losses to the compa- 
nies are double, Kentucky more than double, 
Michigan 50 pr. ct. more than in Connecticut.” 
What sense then, or equity, in making a 
New England best grade man pay the same 
premium as a person in those states pays? 
Is it not an imposition upon him ? Yet the same premium is charged to all of the same 
age in every company, except in the 
AMERICAN POPULAR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. 
It alone Grades and Rates each person according to his individual 
probabilities of living,—deduced from his 
Ancestry, Constitution, Habits, Vocation, 
Residence, Intelligence, Instincts, Health, Age, &c. 
thus giving to each person the advantage or disadvantage of his own peculiar life character- 
istics, greatly favoring the probably long-lived, which most of New England’s sons are. 
To be gradtd and rated costs nothing; is very useful, even if no insurance is wanted, for 
Least 
Cost : 
Term-Life (Labor-Term) Insurance—“ Natural Premium” ; 
Most 
Secure. 
Hon. Oliver Pillsbury, N. H. Insurance Commissioner, unanimously allowed to be one of the 
most discreet and discerning of men, was the first of Commissioners to plainly state in a Report the 
value of Term-Life Insurance : He says, 
“ A Term-life policy to tide over the uncertain results of business enterprises, or the period in which 
the family is dependent upon its natural supporter, viz. : before children arrive at a suitable age to pro- 
vide for themselves, is a valuable possession. This form of policy is commending itself to general favor.” 
The recent Report of the Missouri Commissioner speaks equally strongly to the same point. 
Other companies—for good reasons—not being able to apply these ideas, so valuable to 
the probably long-lived, “make faces ” and “call names ” at this Company, and try to show 
that the more a man pays for even a poorer thing the better off he is. Let the probably long- 
lived hear what they say, but also get our documents, and then judge of the facts. 
Insurance can be made through the mail. If an agency is not near, send for Documents, 
(enclose stamp,) to American Popular Life, 419 & 421 Broadway, N. Y. 
Executive 
Board : 
T. S. Lambert, M.D., President. 
Moreau Morris, M.D., Surg.-in-Chief. 
Agent-in-Chief. 
B. F. Bancroft, Treasurer. 
Remember that Insurance to 
the probably long-lived costs less in 
this Company than in any other. 
James Cruikshank, LL.D., Sec’y. TRIUMPHANT SUCCESS! 
“ Nothing Succeeds Like Success—French Proverb. 
Ninth Year.—Death Losses, 3.56 per each 1,000 Policies, all Grades. Best 
Grade, only 1 Loss per 1,000. Average in all Companies (1873, Mass. 
Report), 11.9.—Highest, 18.00. Lowest, 6.00. 
ANOTHER YEAR OF THE MARVELOUS SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF THE 
APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF 
BIOMETRY, OR THE MEASURE OF LIFE. 
What is that ? 
It is the science and art of prevising the probable length of life of a person—deducing it 
from his Ancestry, Constitution (the measure in size, form, color, and constitution of its va- 
rious parts, being the signs and Indications'), Habits, Vocation, Residence, Intelligence, Instincts, 
Health, Age, and whatever else, if else there be, which can affect the potentialities of life. 
By the application of this science, Life Risks can be graded and rated as in Fire and 
Marine insurance ; and thus, and only thus, can Equity to all Classes, and the Lmvest Cost 
of Premiums to the Best Grades, with perfect security be obtained. 
LOWEST 
COST 
TERM-LIFE (LABOR-TERM) INSURANCE, 
“ NATURAL-PREMIUMS.” 
PERFECT 
SECURITY. 
What is That ? 
It is adapted to secure to a family, in case of the decease of the bread-winner during the 
period of his productive labor, an income correspondent to the yearly avails of that labor. 
“ Natural-Premiums ” is the true plan of “ pay the yearly cost,” or “ pay as you go,” and 
put nothing into a company which, both on account of cost and security, may better be kept, 
by the assured. — 
The two scientific ideas above named are as yet fully applied only by the ( 
AMERICAN POPULAR LIFE INSURANCE CO. A ? 
The idea of Grading and Rating Life Risks cannot be applied by any other company 
already started, since, if it should adopt the method of grading, the best risks now insured in it 
would of course drop their present policies to take out better ones, to wit, at the lower pre- 
miums to which they are entitled ; but the inferior risks would stay, and pay the premiums so 
much less than they ought to be for them. 
The idea of Term-Life '■''Natural Premiums" is not applied by the other companies, be- 
cause, as they say, they would not, on their “ average” plan of taking all insured persons at 
the same premiums, get enough to cover the expense of their numerous losses. 
Hence,all other companies “make faces” at the American Popular, and “call names,” 
about which it does not care a fig, if it can only, as it does, secure the approbation of the scien 
tide and thoughtful, and the patronage of the probably long-lived. 
Send for Documents (with postage-stamp), to 
419 & 421 BROADWAY, 
3NTEW YORK-