94 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



ansemic in spite of the open-air life they lead {query, is this due to 

 the almost exclusively vegetable dietary ?). 



No information was obtainable respecting malignant disease. The 

 cases probably fall into the hands of " wise " men or women, or into 

 those of cancer-curers such as practise in the Mullet district. 



Rheumatism seems to be very common, especially in the old. 



Tonsillitis, too, is not unfrequently seen. 



Hysteria is by no means unknown. 



Dietetic diseases. — Owing to the nature of the food, dyspepsia is 

 very prevalent, and the increasing use or abuse of very strong tea at 

 all meals seems to deserve a large part of the blame which is ascribed 

 to it by some of the older people. 



Ento-parasites are said to be of common occurrence. 



Respiratory diseases. — Bronchitis is very common in the winter 

 and spring months, especially among the older people. 



Local affections are, as was noted in the Mullet, few, and usually 

 of but little importance. Several cases of ophthalmia, and some of 

 senile cataract, also one of " Jacob's " ulcer have been noted of late. 



The teeth are usually short, broad, even, and white ; but dental 

 troubles are by no means uncommon. 



Female troubles seem to be very prevalent. The one most often 

 noted was menorrhagia. 



Venereal diseases. — As is the case commonly in Irish rural districts, 

 venereal complaints may be said to be practically non-existent. 



Skin. — A number of skin diseases come for treatment, the prin- 

 cipal of which are eczema, impetigo, scabies, and tinea tonsurans. 



Accidental injuries are of frequent occurrence, amongst the most 

 common of which are cuts and contused wounds, fractures, and bums. 



(e.) Longevity. — Though there are no centenarians now in Bally- 

 croy, yet there are two persons living who are over ninety years of 

 age, still hale and hearty, and a good many cases of people over 

 eighty years of age. 



4, Psychology. — A sketch of the mental character of the people, 

 as well as the physical, is necessary to the completeness of a report 

 such as this, and accordingly inquiries were made on this point of 

 people of all classes and conditions who have daily dealings with them, 

 as well as such observations as could be made personally during a stay 

 among them of limited duration, and the result is, on the whole, very 

 creditable to the community at large. As is the case with most such 

 communities as this, isolated by reason of origin and customs, the 

 people of the other parts of the barony seem to look upon the inhabi- 



