TEANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. Ull 



of these cases in certain districts appeared to vary much ; their relative percentage 

 frequency is for English children 10-8, Irish 19'9, Jew 7'5 ; among the upper social 

 class 11'5, falling to 10'2 among poorer children. Among these 'development 

 cases' the power of resistance is low, many becoming thin, with disordered nerve- 

 system. Of the 50,000 childi en 7"3 per cent, were reported by teachers as dull, 

 and of the 5,851 ' development cases ' 40 per cent, were dull at lessons. The most 

 important defects were found to be those of the cranium as indicated by the pro- 

 portion among them delicate, dull, and with nerve-disorder or v/eakness ; many of 

 these cases are doubtless due to rickets. Small heads were specially common 

 among girls, the only defect to which they seem specially liable. The palate 

 comes next in frequency and importance. The import of defects of external ear 

 and other parts is shown. It is seen that all forms of defectiveness in develop- 

 ment of visible parts of the body have a significance ; they are commoner among 

 boys than girls, but deviations from the normal development are accompanied by 

 more weakness of constitutional power among girls. 



An account is given of diflferent groups of children, the numbers of each class 

 among the 50,000 (boys, 26,894 ; girls, 23,143) being given. Group I. Normal 

 children, in whom no defect was found ; boys 21,315 ; girls, 19,536, or of boys 70 

 per cent., of girls 84 per cent. Group II. contains the remainder of the children in 

 whom some deviation from the normal was seen or mental dulness was reported by 

 the teachers. Boys, 6,579 ; girls, 3,607 ; total, 9,186 ; boys, 20-7 per cent. ; girls, 15-5 

 per cent. ; total, 18-3 percent. Notes were taken of each of these cases; they are 

 analysed in succeeding groups, many children having more than one defective con- 

 dition appearing in two or more groups. Group III. Children reported as dull at 

 school work, but presenting no visible defects. Boys, 185 ; girls, 134 ; total, 319. 

 These cases appeared sound in body and brain ; perhaps they would gain more 

 from technical education. Group IV. Children feeble-minded or exceptional in 

 mental status. Boys, 124; girls, 110. These were all very difficult cases to deal with. 

 These children were scattered through most schools, and need special care. Group 

 V. Epileptics, and children with history of fits during school life. Boys, 36 ; 

 girls, 18. Group VI. Crippled, paralysed, maimed, and deformed. Boys, 155 ; 

 girls, 84. These children differ so greatly that the needs of each must be separately 

 considered. Group VII. Children deaf or partially deaf. Boys, 34 ; girls, 33. 

 There were also 51 children seen in a school for the dumb. Group VIII. Eye 

 cases. Boys, 836 ; girls, 637. Only obvious defects were noted ; tests for sight 

 were not employed, and ophthalmia, though seen in day-schools, was not recorded. 

 Group IX. Children pale, thin, or delicate, 1,030 boys, 973 girls. Of these cases 

 1,459 presented some defects in development ; this was also noticeable among 

 well-fed children. Group X. Children of defective development described above. 

 Group XI. Cases with slight defect or disorder of the nerve system. Boys, 3,413 ; 

 girls, 2,074. In certain sections of this group the signs seen indicated low-class 

 make, in other classes such as is commonly called ' nervousness or nerve-weak- 

 ness.' Group XIV. Children reported by the teachers as dull in school. Boys, 

 2,216 ; girls, 1,463 ; total, 3,679. Group XV. Children requiring special educational 

 care, including those mentally defective, epileptics, crippled, and those of defective 

 constitution. Boys, 473; girls, 344, or a percentage of 1-6 on the 50,000 children. 

 Groups XIII., XVI., XVII., XVIII. contain children with various combined con- 

 ditions of defectiveness. It is mainly by description of children according to their 

 combined defects that we may best classify them for consideration of their special 

 needs. A table giving detailed conditions is appended to the paper. 



3, On the Brain of an Australian. By Professor' A. Macalister. 



4. Gn Skulls fvom Molanga, Upper Congo. By Professor A. Macahsteb. 



