Life tables

Statistical tables exhibiting the probable proportion of persons who will live to reach different ages. Cent. Diet Such tables are used for many purposes, such as the computation of the present value of annuities, dower rights, etc.; and for the computation of damages resulting from injuries which destroy the earning capacity of a person, or those resulting from the death of a person to those who are dependent upon him. There are a number of mortality tables in ordinary use, among which those most frequently referred to, are the Carlisle, Northampton and Farr Tables, all made from general statistics, and the Combined Experience, American Experience and Thirty Offices Experience Tables, which are the result of life insurance statistics. Courts can take judicial notice of the Carlisle Tables, and can use them in estimating the probable length of life, whether they were introduced in evidence or not; Lincoln V. Power, 151 U. S. 436, 14 Snp. Ot 387, 38 L. Ed. 224. Standard life and ancompetent evidence; Louisville & N. R. Co. V. Kelly’s Adm’x, 100 Ky. 421, 38 S. W. 862, 40 S. W. 462; City of Friend v. Burleigh, 53 Neb. 674, 74 N. W. 50; Sweet v. B. Co., 20 R. I. 785, 40 Atl, 237; or as bearing on the question of compensation for permanent injury, or In case of death to show the deceased’s expectation of life at the time of accident; Sauter v. R. Co., 66 N. Y. 50, 23 Am. Rep. 18; Coates v. R. Co., 62 la. 487, 17 N. W. 760. Other cases hold that it must first be shown that the individual is within the class of selected lives tabulated; Ward V. Dampskibsselskabet Kjoebenhavn, 144 Fed. 524; Vicksburg Railroad, Power & Mfg. Co. vr White, 82 Miss. 468, 34 South. 331. The condition of the person’s health must be taken into account; Camden & A. R. Co. V. Williams, 61 N. J. L. 646, 40 Atl. 634; but they have been admitted although the person was diseased; Smiser v. State, 17 Ind. App. 619, 47 N. E. 229; and although the person was engaged in a peculiarly hazardous business; International & G. N. R. Co. v. Tisdale, 36 Tex. Civ. App. 174, 81 S. W. 347; and although he was not an insurable risk in life Insurance practice; Southern Kansas R. Co. of Texas v. Sage (Tex.) 80 S. W. 1038. Some cases merely hold that they are evidence for the jury in determining the expectation of life; Kerrigan v. R. Co., 194 Pa. 98, 44 Atl. 1069; Western & A. R. Co. v. Cox, 115 Ga. 715, 42 S. E. 74; but in permitting their use the trial judge should instruct the jury that their value depends very much upon plaintiff’s state of health, habits of life, liability to contract disease, social condition, etc.; Campbell v. City of York, 172 pi. 206, 33 Atl. 879; and the circumstances affecting the life in question; Newlngham v. Blair Co., 232 Pa. 518, 81 Atl. 556. While they are competent evidence, they are not “absolute guides’’ to the jury; Vicksburg & M. R. Co. V. Putnam, 118 U. S. 545, 7 Sup. Ct 1, 30 L. Ed. 257, citing with approval Brett and Cotton, L. JJ., in 49 L.