the fifth, to 3189; from the fifth to the tenth inclusive, to 1817; and from that age upwards, to 976; in this latter number must have been included a large proportion of diseases of the brain not generally considered as examples of hydrocephalus.

Apoplexy.-Deaths 11,185. Males 100 to 56.82 females. Deaths in hospitals 139 males and 52 females. The rural districts have afforded the chief mortality.

Convulsions.-Deaths 66,870. Males 100 to 76.78 females. Proportion to total deaths 1 in 17.75. This is the prominent symptom, and hence the term popularly assigned to a vast number of infantile diseases. During the first twelve months 54,822 are registered as from this cause: from the first to the end of the fifth year 10,610; and from the fifth to the fifteenth year 1433. After this age convulsive diseases are registered as epilepsy.

Lock-jaw.-Deaths 238. Males 172, females 66. There are registered 40 cases as occurring during the first month-doubtless instances of trismus nascentium, which Dr. Collins states occurred in 37 out of 274 deaths of children in the Dublin Lying-in Hospital; and Dr. Joseph Clarke records that in his time 19 of the great mortality which then prevailed in that institution arose from this cause.

Epilepsy.-Deaths 1030. Males 100 to 68.57 females. The males predominate at every age except from 5 to 10 and 15 to 20, when females The disease proved most fatal at the ages from 10 to

are most numerous.

15 and 20 to 40.

2. Respiratory and Circulatory Organs.-These amount to 178,919 deaths in the proportion of 100 males to 101.72 females. Compared to the total deaths they are 1 in 6.63.

Consumption. This is by far the most fatal of the diseases of Ireland, exceeding even fever by 23,518 deaths. The numbers are 135,590. Males 100 to 113.07 females. To deaths from all causes the proportion is 1 in 8.75, and to those of other affections of the respiratory and circulatory organs 1 in 1.31: to epidemics in general as 100 to 281-17 to fever alone as 100 to 82.65. The proportion in the rural compared to the civic districts is 100 to 23.71. The most fatal age was from 15 to 30th year and then from the 30th to the 50th.

Inflammation of the Lungs.-Deaths 27,684. Males 100 to females 63.11. The most fatal period was from the 45th to the 60th year. It is obvious that the returns concerning this disease, and many others of the chest, as bronchitis, pleurisy, hæmoptysis, diseased heart, &c. &c. must be very imperfect, derived as they are from popular sources alone.

Asthma.-Deaths 10,594. Males 100 to 102.98. Compared with total deaths 1 in 112.07. Fatal period especially from 45 to 75. Here many diseases must of course become confounded under one name.

3. Digestive Organs.-These deaths amount to 123,828. Males 100 to females 90.98. Compared to all others they are 1 in 9.58.

Dentition.-Deaths 3,303. Males 100 to 87.67 females. More than 2000 occurred during the first year, and several deaths entered as convulsions were due to this cause.

Dropsy.-(embracing anasarca as well as ascites) deaths 23,332. Males 100 to 87.67 females. This disease ranks thirteenth in frequency of all

registered, and, next to consumption and fever, in the frequency of its occurrence in public hospitals, &c. Acute dropsy is not an uncommon affection of childhood in Ireland: thus, 532 deaths occurred during the first twelvemonth, and 4,442 between the ages of 1 and 15.

Marasmus.-Deaths 68,650. Males 100 to 105.81 females. Next to convulsions it is the most destructive affection of extreme youth; but differs from that disease in the fact of the female exceeding the male deaths at all ages after the first year. During the first five years it is 1 to 0.86 compared with small-pox: 1 to 0.43 with measles: 1 to 0.09 scarlatina; 1 to 0.59 hooping cough; 1 to 0.7 croup: 1 to 1.16 convulsions; and of the general mortality to the same period 1 in 7.67. This disease is a favourite one among the lower orders for the exhibition of several superstitious practices for its cure. Believing it to originate in the malevolent power of the fairy tribe, they employ various means for circumventing or propitiating this minute but mischievous race.

Urinary Organs.-The total deaths from diseases of these, amount to 3,137. Males 100 to 14.07 females.

Childbed, or its immediate consequences, puerperal fever, flooding and inflammation, proved fatal to 13,903-383 cases of which occurred in the hospitals, &c.; 1562 in the civic districts (or 1 in 149.91 of the entire deaths of the towns of or above 2000 inhabitants); and 11,958 in rural districts, or 1 in 76.23 of all the deaths of the minor towns and the open country. Of these deaths, 9 occurred at or under 15 years of age: 563 from 15 to 20: 6603 from 20 to 30; 5567 from 30 to 40: 1084 from 40 to 50: 42 deaths from 50 to 55; and 10 deaths from 55 to 60—1 death occurring at 66, the age of the husband then being 72 and the date of the contraction of the marriage 1780.

Rheumatism.-Deaths 3511. Males 100 to 80.97 females. It seems especially prevalent and fatal in rural districts. It is termed in the vernacular "splitting of the bones ;" and "sweating houses, a rude species of Russian bath, are still in vogue for the cure of rheumatic affections, particularly in the western parts of Ireland." The great majority of deaths occurred between 45 and 80.

Scrofula.-" Were the history and symptoms of at least one half of the deaths from the sporadic diseases enumerated in the 671,960 deaths from these causes accurately known, it would perhaps fall short of the number of deaths that might be traced directly or indirectly to this taint; for tubercle, in one form or other, is one of the most frequent causes of death in this country. The deaths specified in the Census returns, scrofula," "the evil," the "King's" or " running evil" amount to 3149, as 100 males to 64.01 females.

VIOLENT AND SUDDEN DEATHS.-These amounted in all to 44,445, as 100 males to 49.3 females; 1 in 25.92 occurring in rural districts, and 1 in 29.54 in civic districts. Compared to epidemics they are 1 to 8.57, and to sporadic diseases 1 to 17.13. Burns and Scalds destroyed 4349 persons. To the end of the fifth year the sexes are nearly equal; but from that age upwards the female deaths predominate. The great majority of deaths occurred from the twelfth month to the end of the twelfth year. Deaths from drowning chiefly accidental, have amounted to 7072. Males

100 to 29.45 females. Deaths from Intemperance amounted to 1239, or 1043 males and 196 females. The intemperate abuse of spirituous liquors existed in Ireland, as in England, especially about 1724; and, some time after then, the places for selling liquors in Dublin alone amounted to 3500. From that time the habit of drinking continued to prevail in great excess in Ireland, and was followed by a black train of consequences, in the shape of deaths, diseases, and insanity. Death from this cause increased rapidly from 1831 to 1839. Happily a new order of things commenced, and has already borne its fruits. The places in Dublin for retailing liquors in 1841 only amounted to 1098, an astonishing decrease when we consider that 3500 existed a century ago with a so much smaller population. Much however remains to be done; for, 13,204 persons (7,544 males and 5,660 females) were apprehended for being drunk in the streets of Dublin during 1841. A less quantity of ardent spirits is taken by the lower orders in Ireland than by the inhabitants of the large manufacturing towns in England; but, as formerly observed by Dr. Speer and now reiterated by Mr. Wilde, the injurious effects of these pernicious compounds are much increased by the former taking them in the morning upon empty stomachs, while the latter accompany their use with a considerable portion of solid nourishing food.

Executions.-There were 197 persons (188 males and 9 females) executed during the ten years: but a comparison of the first five years with the latter five years shows that the annual average was 31 in the former and but 8 in the latter. The greatest number of executions occurred between the ages of 20 and 25.

Accidental Poisoning.-Deaths 139. Males 74, females 65. Proportion to violent deaths 1 in 319.74: and to general mortality 1 in 8,542.25.

"The total deaths from all sources for the entire kingdom registered from the Census returns, and which purport to be the deaths of the families from whom these returns were received, during the ten years ending 6th June 1841, amount to 1,187,374 in the proportion of 100 males to 91-24 females: of which number 911,619 occurred in the open country, including the minor towns and villages, the sexes being 100 males to 91.04 females-234,173 deaths took place in the civic district, as 100 males to 94'05 females, and 41,582 deaths in the different hospitals and sanitary institutions, in the ratio of 100 males to 80 67 females. But as 39,950 of these deaths occurred in those hospitals which were situated in the towns that form the civic districts, it increases the mortality of these places to 274,123, or 1 in 4 14; and the remainder added to the rural districts in which the hospitals where they happened are located, raises its mortality to 913,251, or 1 in 7.7."

Upon the proportionate mortality we have the following observations. "This mortality, which according to the first series of calculations, is nearly 1 in 55, and by the second, or that in the year 1840, is 1 in 57.19, may appear at first sight too small. It is, nevertheless, I am of opinion, but little short of the truth, especially when the circumstances of Ireland are considered in comparison with those of England, where, in the period from 1821 to 1831, the average annual mortality was but one in 51; and by the present more accurate system of registration it varies from 1 in 47 in 1839 to 1 in 44 in 1841, and the average of the entire period during which the Registration Act has been in force, is as low as 1 in 45. In England, the Bills of Mortality for many years, and the lately published Sanitary Report upon the condition of the working classes in particular, show us that the ratio of deaths to the living varies from 1 to 64 in agricultural

districts and the open country, as in Herefordshire, to 1 in 28.33 in the densely populated manufacturing towns, such as Manchester, &c. To establish, then, a fair analogy between the mortality of the two countries, taking England as the average, the proportion of Ireland which is analogous to, and its inhabitants similarly situated with, those of the working classes in Herefordshire, Dorset, or Cornwall, the healthiest parts of England, on the one hand-and the proportion of this country, or its inhabitants similarly situated with those of Leeds, Manchester, or Liverpool, the unhealthy parts of England, on the other, must be all taken into account: and thus comparisons may be formed between the relative mortality of the two countries. The late Sanitary Report exhibits conditions of the population in the mining and manufacturing districts of England, such as are not to be found in this country; the infantile mortality in the most unhealthy parts of Ireland, falls far short of that in some of the larger towns in England; and, lastly, the proportion of sudden or violent deaths is 745 in every 100,000 of the population in the latter, and but 61:22 in 100,000 on an average of five years in the former country. From an examination of the entire records of death, disease, and longevity, in this country, I am led to believe that, were an accurate registration effected, the proportionate annual mortality would not be found to exceed 1 in 52 or 1 in 53."

Of course Mr. Wilde's calculations can, in the absence of an actual registration of deaths, only be approximative; besides, the deficiencies in the return of the number of deaths already noticed, scarcely any still-born deaths were returned, which, at 4 per cent. for the 10 years would amount to 90,000; and the instances were very numerous where even the hospitals could furnish no return of their dead. The Reporter has ably contended against these various difficulties, and the conclusions he has arrived at will probably be confirmed when a proper system of registration is established. Coroner's Inquests.-A return of 20,334 deaths upon which coroner's inquests were held was obtained. Of these there were 3,494 homicides of several varieties, all of which exhibit an annual average decrease of 74.6 during the last five years. Suicides 755, which have, during the last five years, increased 13 on the annual average. Nearly of these deaths were caused by hanging; about by drowning; less than by stabbing: somewhat more than by poison; more than by shooting; and scarcely by suffocation. There were 8072 accidental deaths, of which drowning gives 2410, burning 532, cold 495, suffocation 369, poison 68, lightning 38, unspecified 2811. In deaths caused by fire, females predominated, in all others, the males. Deaths from immoderate use of ardent spirits, amounted to 1129, i. e. 950 males and 179 females. In 12,762 inquests, medical evidence was had recourse to. "In 315 inquests held upon new-born infants, the Coroner's juries determined, without the examination of medical evidence, that 99 were still-born; while in 79 instances of accidental gun-shot wounds, medical evidence was had recourse to in 60 cases." A truly Hibernian mode of procedure.

Insanity and Idiotcy.-The returns embrace the deaths of such as were received into the different asylums (public and private) and jails during the 10 years and of the living under confinement on 6th June, 1841. Of the 2,778 deaths returned (1528 males and 1250 females) the immediate cause of death is stated only in 2,161.

"The examination of this table shows us not only the vast preponderance of deaths from diseases of the nervous system, the most usual causes of insanity,

idiotcy, and epilepsy, amounting to 791, but also of those affections that in an especial manner mark the scrofulous nature of lunacy. Thus the deaths from consumption, including, in all probability, marasmus and maniacal decay, as well as phthisis, number 601 alone: dropsy, symptomatic, in all probability, of tubercular disease of the abdominal viscera 37: disease of the liver 9; and scrofula, so termed from some manifest exhibition of the affection, 32; in all, 1,470, or somewhat more than one-half of the entire deaths."

The proportion of males to females in the total deaths was 100 to 81. The greatest mortality prevailed between 20 and 50; and the average duration of life was 35 to 40 males, 40 to 45 females. Comparing the deaths and receptions in ten district asylums, the average mortality was, in the ten years, 20.45 males, 17.37 females, 19.02 on both. In the five public asylums of Cork, it was 26-18 males, 22.2 females, 24-22 on the whole. The Friends at Donnybrook gave but 5.18 per cent. In eight private asylums, the mortality averaged 12.02.

The lunatics under treatment in the different asylums and jails, on 6th June, 1841, amounted to 3,382 persons-of whom 333 were idɔts, and 124 epileptics. The mean period of life was from 30 to 40. The educated persons were 2,088, the uneducated 1,294. Males 1,209 educated to 527 uneducated. Females 879 to 767. There were married 411 males to 504 females, and 1,325 males to 1,142 females unmarried.

Hospitals and Sanitary Institutions.-The Infirmaries or County Hospitals amount to 35, and the General Hospitals, situated chiefly in the cities and large towns, to 30. The following is the proportionate mortality from the various classes of disease. Epidemic, Contagious, and Endemic, 2,734, of which 2,526 were cases of fever. Diseases of Nervous System, 972. Respiratory and Circulatory Organs, 2,366. Digestive Organs, 2,041. Urinary Organs, 208. Locomotive Organs, 413. Tegumentary System, 325. Uncertain Seat, 1,776. It is almost incredible that 6,049 instances, or nearly one in every three cases occurring in these public institutions are returned as the cause of death not being known; nay, more inexcusable still, the records do not specify the age in 8,764 instances!

The total amount of deaths in 86 Fever Hospitals from which returns were received, amounted to 15,988. Males 100 to 94.5 females, but, from the defective state of Hospital Registries in Ireland, this falls far short of the actual number."

Lying-in Hospitals.-Eleven printed returns of deaths of 394 mothers, and 2,258 children, but in 2,249 the cause of death of the latter not returned, many, however, being still-born. The ratio of still-born was 6.87 per cent. This is not the average ratio throughout the country, which is not more than four or five per cent., but the maximum occurring in crowded cities and public institutions.

The number of patients in the Hospitals and Lunatic Asylums, 6th June 1841, amounted to 8,652, as 100 males to 97.71 females: their proportion to the entire population of Ireland being one in 944.88.

Sanitary Report on the City of Dublin.—This contains a map of Dublin, LXXXI.

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