350 REPORTS FROM THE SECTIONS. 
334 out of. 1,029 admissions; whilst in Dr. Thurnam’s well- 
known statistics of the “Retreat,” 153 cases were known to be due 
Esquirol observes, that of all diseases insanity is the most heredi- 
tary, and gives figures showing that in one-fourth of the total 
number of cases coming under his care this influence was ascer- 
tained. Guislain estimates it at one-fourth in Belgium, and 
or about one-fourth. ere is reason to fear that the pro 
portion of insanity due to hereditary influence is steadily in- 
creasing. Dr. Ball, Professor of Mental Medicine at the Univer- 
of the terrible hereditary character of insanity may do something 
to prevent imprudent marriages, but unfortunately it is not with 
the prudent and thoughtful that we have to deal. Itis with the 
wayward, the impulsive, and the improvident, with brains bearing 
subtle mischief in their recesses, and but little likely to look 
beyond selfish gratification. The time has not yet arrived for legisla- 
tive interference. In time to come however, when the liberty of 
the subject is made more subordinate to the welfare of the com- 
munity, it will perhaps be found expedient in the interest. 
future generations to insist on prolonged isolation aries 
interference in the case of all persons who have been afflicted Dr. 
mental disease. In the meantime, to quote the words of ble 
Blandford, “it behoves a physician before whom the tert vi 
results of imprudence in this direction are paraded day by “ya 
hold out a warning and to point out the evils which — if, as 
imprudent union, and the immense amount of insanity 
