RECORD OF FAMILY FACULTIES. 



them are (I take this list and that in the next paragraph from the 

 Life History Album already alluded to) : — 



Colds in the head or throat, sick headaches, sleeplessness, boils, quinsy, 

 enlarged glands in the neck, bleeding at the nose, indigestion, bilious attacks 

 (state whether accompanied by jaundice, vomiting, or headache), constipa- 

 tion, skin eruptions (their nature should be stated if known), varicose 

 veins, &c. 



Malformations, which are extremely hereditary, should be included 

 under this or under the following head, 



(15) Graver illnesses. The existence of one or more of the following- 

 diseases in any members of the family should be recorded, and the age 

 at which it first appeared : — 



Gout, rheumatism, consumption, sj^itting of blood, struma (scrofula), 

 cancer (and other forms of tumour), bronchitis, asthma, paralysis (state 

 whether of both legs or of one side), epilepsy, insanity, heart - disease, 

 dropsy of abdomen, general dropsy (Bright's disease), diabetes, stone, goitre, 

 fistula, the peculiar liability to bleed seriously from slight cuts, &c. 



(16) Cause and date of death. Some remarks will be made in the 

 next paragraph on the registered causes of death. These statements are 

 far from being as trustworthy as desirable, words of ill-omen being 

 avoided for fear of wounding the family feeling, and the secondary 

 symptoms of a grave disorder being often registered instead of the 

 primary one. Still, the registered cause of death, wherever found, is a 

 piece of information that has always some value, as it generally indicates 

 the seat of the malady and supplies negative evidence, but it should 

 be supplemented if possible by the results of independent and careful 

 inquiries. 



Documentary Evidence. 



There is no difficulty in ascertaining the registered cause of death of 

 any person in England or Wales since the middle of the year 1837, in 

 Scotland since the beginning of 1855, and in Ireland since the beginning 

 of 1864, by making application at the General Register Offices in 

 London, Edinburgh, and Dublin respectively. 



The formalities, fees, and information given, are much the same 

 in all three cases. I give those of the General Register Office, Somerset 

 House, London, as an example. 



