TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 165 



The results of the inquiries made regarding the occupations of lunatics and the 

 apparent causes of their malady are tabulated in the report. Of 404 persons of the 

 professional class, attecled with lunacy, only 40 are reported as having apparently 

 been injured by moral causes, and 51 by physical causes. In the same class, grief 

 amongst females, and excessive study amongst males, are the most injurious causes 

 of lunacy ; whilst amongst shopkeepers, tradespeople, and agriculturists, reverse of 

 fortune and grief are most commonly productive of disease. 



The cases of fever were more than double the number of those of any other disease. 

 They were very unequally distributed throughout the provinces. 



In Leinster ...there were 3056 cases in a population of 1,672,174 

 InMunster... „ 6107 „ 1,857,244 



In Ulster „ 1917 „ 2,011,786 



InConnaught. „ 1541 „ 1,012,006 



It thus appears that in Ulster there were nearly one-third of the proportional 

 number of persons affected as compared with those of Munster, and little more than 

 one-half of the Connaught numbers. 



The report enables us also to compare the prevalence of fever in the cities and 

 towns with its prevalence in rural districts ; and such a comparison shows that, in 

 certain parts of the island, there is but little difference in this respect between the 

 town and country ; in others, that the numbers are considerably greater in the towns. 

 For instance, in the town of Waterford, with a population of 33,900, there were 

 176 cases of fever reported ; while in the country (exclusive of the town), with a 

 population of 164,051, there were 282 cases of fever reported, instead of 880, as 

 there would have been, had the same proportions between the population and fever 

 existed in the country that did in the town. 



It seems very desirable, that what was in this matter done for Ireland in connexion 

 with the last census, should be done for England and Scotland in connexion with the 

 next census. 



An Analysis of some of the Principles which regulate the Effects of a Con- 

 vertible Paper Currency. By Count D. Frolich. 



On Decimal Arrangement of Land Measures. 

 By Peter Gale, A.M., Dublin. 



'i'he plan proposed is of the simplest character, and in accordance with the 

 existing system. In fact, there are involved only two changes, both beneficial in 

 themselves, productive of important effects, and yet of easy modification with the 

 existing system. The first of these changes is to get rid of the fractional part of 

 the perch, by reducing it from 5^ to 5 yards. As the easy conversion, however, of 

 the local measures of the United Kingdom is of great practical importance, a njatter 

 heretofore altogether overlooked, no change is proposed in our acreable divisions. 

 The acre then which will result from this proposed diminution of the perch, and 

 ■which for distinction's sake may be called the Imperial acre, will stand thus : — 



Square Yds. Square Yds. 



1 Square Perch 25 instead of 30j 



40 Square Perches, 1 Rood, or 1000 „ 1210 

 4 Roods, 1 Acre, or 4000 „ 4840 



The first fact to be noticed is the simplicity of this acre above all existing ones. 

 Both the rood and acre consist of whole numbers, admitting of easy decimal cal- 

 culation. Secondly, the proportion between the existing local measures will be 

 rendered easy ; a matter of more importance than is generally supposed, and which 

 would be effectually prevented by the decimal arrangement recommended by the 

 Commissioners of 1842. In the conversion of the several local measures into 

 statute measure, the fractional nature of the statute or English perch acts most 

 injuriously ; for as each of these acres contains the same number of perches, their 

 respective proportion must be as the square of the perch ; and as the statute perch 

 of 5i yards squared makes 30^ square yards, in every case where the statute acre is 

 the object of comparison, to get rid of the fraction we must multiply it by 4, and 



