PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECTIONS. 197 
A Contribution to the Study of Heredity. 
By F. Norton amnaeey: M.D. rove tong of the Insane 
n New South Wales 
[Read before the Medical Section of the Royal Society of N.S.W., 
17 Ju 885. ] 
85. 
Some time ago [ commenced an inquiry into the family and life 
cause of the malady under which they were suffering, and 
~ ei how far hereditary mischief had a share in its pro- 
duction. I was soon met by a difficulty which had 1k. occurred 
to Fie, in the impossibility of tracing the relations and friends of 
a large number of the patients. On searching the records, a very 
considerable proportion were found to be deserted children, who 
een picked up as waifs by the police, and, after a short stay 
in the Benevolent Asylum or some kindred institution, had been 
sent to find a permanent home at Newcastle. Not long after the 
opening of the institution twenty cases were sent in one batch from 
the Benevolent Asylum, and in no one of these was the address of 
relatives or friends known. In other instances, it appeared that 
the angen had been sent from home to the Hospital upon the 
of the relatives or friends immediately in charge of them, 
ry that other relatives, if such there were, joes no interest in 
them, made no inquiries about them, and did n 
concerning them. Out of a total of 220 hg et sod idiot patients 
on the register in July, 1884 (I am excluding the 
aged epileptics), _ address of friends was knowy only in 140- 
cases, or less than two-thirds, As I had to gain such information 
as I required oat y si cor respondence with people probably far 
from well educated, possibly not over bright in intellect, and cer- 
tainly subject to all sorts of prejudices and fancies, I soon — 
doned the task I had set myself. Baffled in the larger and mo 
comprehensive inquiry, I turned to the cases in which there su 
two or more of a family afflicted with mental weakness ; 
as wig se wished, they have involved some aot 
Ribs: the alesis Gene neral.. From an: bwetity- bike families, with 
a total of yee tine children—forty-eight males and tit four oo 
