in the United States in Fifty Years. 



63 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE PROBABILITIES OF LIFE. THE DEAF AND DUMB, THE BLIND, AND 



THE INSANE. 



On these interesting topics our information is far more meagre 

 than could be wished, but it has been gradually enlarging since 

 1790. The census of that year, indeed, afforded none, except the 

 single fact of the number of white males above and below sixteen. 

 The enumerations of 1800 and 1810 gave the numbers both of 

 white males and females at five periods of life ; but, like the first, 

 made no discrimination of the sex or age of the coloured race. That 

 of 1820 gave the numbers both of the free coloured and slaves, of 

 both sexes, at four periods of life ; and those of 1830 and 1840 have 

 extended the discriminations of the whites to thirteen periods, and 

 those of the coloured race to six periods. The two last have also 

 numbered the deaf and dumb at three periods of life, and the blind 

 of both races ; but the census of 1840 has added the number of in- 

 sane, and has confined the discriminations of the deaf and dumb, 

 according to age, to the whites. 



The following tables show, as far as materials thus scanty and 

 irregular permit, the comparative probabilities of life, between the 

 sexes of each race, at different ages, saving the slight disturbances 

 from migration, by which the white males gain, and the coloured 

 males lose : 



I. — The proportion of white Mules and Females at different ages, according to the 

 enumerations of 1800, 1810, and 1820. 



