The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

20 The Health Bulletin September, 1927
THE BUSINESS OF HEALTH CONSERVATION
IJy L. A. RISKR, M.D.
I)irelicy holders. This examination is
complete including an examination of
urine. Many companies have now
adopted this policy. The motive of the
insurance company might be considered
both mercenary and altruistic. If it
contributes to a cause which tends to
lengthen the life of the i)()licy holder
it also helps to lengthen the life span
of the entire population. Each year
added to the life of a policy holder adds
dollars and cents to the resources of
the company and at the same time gives
tlie policy holder something far more
valuable—a year of life.
In 1913 our health conservation
work began with the periodic physical
examination. This has b^een continued
up to the present time. The policy
holders are notified of the time and
place and a physician goes out from the
home office to give the examinations. If
an impairment is found the applicant is
referred to his family physician, his
dentist or a specialist as the case may
require. We do not designate any given
specialist. If we are asked to do this
we suggest that the family physician lie
consulted. We keep a record of our
cases and follow them up with a letter
a few months later. As a rule our policy
holders are glad to act on a suggestion
but occasionally they need a reminder.
The educational side of our program
has an especial appeal to us. Having
been actively engaged in public health
work for so many years we know the
great need for appealing, concise literature
on subjects which deal with impairments
most frequently found. We
are trying to be helpful to all existing
public health agencies and are cooperating
with them in every possible
way. We are offering them our literature
for distribution and have also
offered to get out literature on any
special subject to fit their individual
needs.
To the Health Conservation Department
the life and health of the individual
means more than the financial
gain to the company. Our idea of the
work is entirely altruistic. Fortunately
our company recognizes our ideals and
takes the broadest possible attitude toward
the work of this department. It
has been agreed that any physical impairment
which we might find in our
FEEDING THE SQUIRRELS IIV
CAPITOL SQUARE
A pastime enjoyed by viKiting; children
from all over North Carolina. ^\'hen these
boys come back to the I>eg;i,slature about 25
years from now and run into too much
trouble about IVeiling the State employees,
they can go over to the State Library and
look up this picture and weep.