174 Report on Calculous Affections. 



the same circumstances as their parents or forefathers ; and this is 

 wholly distinct from any hereditary taint. But in addition to the 

 result from these considerations, it would be necessary, on a great 

 scale, to ascertain the relative proportion of those who have been 

 affected, after their progenitors, and those attacked without this . 

 condition ; but sufficient facts have not yet been supplied for 

 this proof. 



It has been long known that stone in the bladder is much less 

 frequent in women than in men. In women, too, the prospect 

 of success from operation is much greater. The result of the 

 numerical data on this point, go to prove that in an equal num-? 

 ber of operations, there is a half less of men than women 

 recover. 



An extensive study of the many causes which are said to be 

 capable of producing the stone, throws discredit upon number- 

 less current assertions respecting the influence of certain viands 

 and beverages which have been regarded as capable of induc- 

 ing the malady. All still appears to be doubt and obscurity on 

 this point. 



With regard to the principal periods of life at which these 

 diseases more especially assail, the numerical reports bear that 

 more than the half occur in those who are under fourteen years 

 of age. Pouteau states, that in the hospitals of Lyons, seven or 

 eight children are cut for one adult. This proposition, however, 

 is not true in all situations. Whilst it is quite true respecting 

 Wurteniberg, the mountains of Lorraine and Barrois^ for the 

 southern aspect of the Alps, and of some counties of England, 

 &c. it seems, on the contrary, that in other localities, and, for» 

 example, in very hot and very cold countries, adults and old 

 men are most exposed to the affection. To this it should be 

 added, that children thus attacked belong almost exclusively 

 to the indigent classes of the community, whilst no such pecu- 

 liarity is found with adults and the aged. 



If these tables be examined regarding the different professions 

 and occupations of social life, which either promote or oppose 

 the development of these complaints, it will be found they afford 

 no explicit instruction, nor conclusive result. They, on the other 

 hand, shew that they are encountered nearly equally amongst 

 individuals belonging to all conditions, and that in the ratio of 



