164 REPORT — 1855. 



for solution ; and the lengths both of the entire lines, and of the segments of them 

 cut off by the cord, are given by the tabular numbers on the margin. To obtain 

 the answers, in terms of the number of deaths, instead of the number of survivals, 

 it is only necessary to count the divisions of the base fi-om the top, instead of from 

 the bottom, for which purpose twenty prominent decimal figures, of a different colour 

 from those of the table, will suffice ; and instead of reading the last proportional 

 from the table, it is read at the same point from the other series of numbers. 



On Prevailinff Diseases of Sierra Leone. By R. Clarke, 



On some of the results deducible from the Report on the Statics of Disease in 

 Irekmd, published ivith the Census o/" 1 851 . 

 By John Coldstream, M.D., Edinburgh. 



The report in question was presented to both Houses of Parliament, by command 

 of Her Majesty, during the session of 1854. It contains special reports on the 

 numbers and condition of the deaf and dumb, of the blind, of lunatics and idiots, of 

 lame and decrepit, of the sick in workhouses, hospitals, prisons, and asylums, and a 

 general report on the total sick in Ireland on the day of the census of 1851. These 

 reports are illustrated by thirty-nine elaborate statistical tables. Additional details 

 are given in an appendix of seven tables ; five of which show the number and diseases 

 of the sick at their own homes, and in public institutions, in Ireland generally, and 

 in each of the four provinces ; the sixth shows the same arranged in counties, cities, 

 and towns ; and the seventh shows the same arranged according to the ages of the 

 sick. These reports and tables are founded on the facts ascertained in reply to 

 queries issued along with those for the census. Their examination and reduction 

 appear to have been executed with the greatest care. The whole form a rich mine 

 of valuable information. 



The diseases specified in the tables amount to 109 in number; they are system- 

 atically arranged. In each table showing the disease of a province, there are head- 

 ings to distinguish the patients in towns from those in the country ; and headings 

 for the sick in infirmaries and asylums, and in workhouses. By an examination of 

 one of the tables in the Appendix, one can ascertain at a glance the numbers affected 

 with each of the 109 specified diseases in any of the counties or chief towns of the 

 kingdom. 



104,495 cases of diseases and injuries of all kinds are reported as having existed 

 throughout all Ireland on the day of the census. Of these 7284 were of blindness, 

 5074 of insanity, 4848 of idiocy, and 4337 of deaf dumbness, forming together 

 more than one- fifth of all the diseases reported upon. Of zymotic or epidemic, 

 endemic and contagious diseases, there were 34,998 cases, of which 13,777 were of 

 fever, and 6716 of dysentery. Of 69,497 cases of sporadic diseases, 24,522 were 

 of the nervous system, 534 of the circulating organs, 10,509 of the respiratory 

 organs, 4511 of the digestive organs, 289 of the urinary organs, 693 of the genera- 

 tive organs, 8822 of the locomotive organs, 7 167 of the tegumentary organs, 10,394 

 were diseases of uncertain seat, 1224 were cases of injury by accident; and of 832 

 cases, the nature was not specified. The 24,522 cases of diseases of the nervous 

 system included 21,543 cases of blindness, insanity, idiocy and deaf dumbness. Of 

 the proportions borne by these to the general population, the following summary is 

 given : — 



Deaf and dumb... 1 person in 1265 of the community. 



Blind 1 „ 864 



Insane 1 „ 1291 



Idiotic 1 „ 1336 



Of persons returned as idiots, 2666 were males, and 2240 were females. Gene- 

 rally the proportion of idiots is smaller in the civic than amongst the rural popula- 

 tion ; while it is quite otherwise with lunatics, the proportionate numbers of whom 

 are nearly twice as great in the towns as they are in the country. It is noted that 

 3562 idiots are at large, 202 in asylums, is' in prisons, and 1129 in workhouses. 

 So that only about one-fourth of the idiot population is in any way cared for. 



