PARENTS' PROCRASTINATION.

As our report will probably find its way into numerous households who have but a limited acquaintance with the class of our fellow creatures for whom we are laboring, it is thought desirable to give as much information as we can in the brief space at our disposal respecting their condition, past and present and the beneficial effects of education upon them with the hope that parents of deaf mute children will see the importance of providing for their welfare by securing an education for them while their age renders them eligible for admission. The influence of friends is often needed to induce parents to part with their little ones, although they may know that the separation is necessary for the child's good, and often the very love of parents for their offspring forms an obstacle difficult to surmount when offering them the advantages of the Institution and urging their acceptance before it becomes too late.

One young man, the son of respectable parents, living on the north coast of the Province, was detained at home because he was useful on the farm. His usefulness prevented him getting an education. Another intelligent young man about thirty years of age, neglected in his childhood, but with ability enough to earn his own livelihood, now perceives the disadvantage under which he is placed and seeks admission with us. The consideration of the foregoing facts should prevent the recurrence of similar cases in future.

INCREASE OF DEAF MUTES IN NEW BRUNSWICK.

There were 33,878 deaf mutes in the United States in 1880, giving one deaf mute to every 1,500 of the general population and this proportion also obtains in the old country.

In 1871 the general population of New Brunswick was 285,594, and the number of its deaf mutes 306. This gave one deaf mute to every 933 of the general population. According to the census of 1881 there was a general population of 321,000, and its deaf mute population 401.

This gives the large proportion of one deaf mute to every 800 of the general popu. lation.

Whether this striking result is due to a large increase in infantile diseases, such as scarlet fever and spinal meningitis, or whether it is due to a greater tendency on the part of adult deaf mutes to marry deaf mutes we have no data to determine.

INTERMARRIAGE OF THE DEAF.

Deaf mutism is evidently increasing in the Province, and the following facts should deter intelligent deaf mutes from seeking partners for life who are similarly afflicted to themselves.

There is no doubt that deafness is hereditary, aud in certain cases parents will possibly and in others probably transmit it to their children. From statistics collated by the Rev. W. W. Turner it was shown that in eighty-six families with one parent a congenital deaf mute, one-tenth of the children were deaf, and in twenty-four families with both parents congenital deaf mutes about one third were born deaf.

Parents who became deaf through accidental causes are not likely to have deaf children. A percentage of the children of parents who were both born deaf will probably be deaf. The children of parents where only one is deaf, but with deaf mute relations on either father's or mother's side, will probably be deaf.

The largest proportion of deaf mute children are the result of marriages of congenitally deaf parents who have also deaf-mute relatives.

The consideration of these facts should induce the friends and teachers of deaf mutes to use their influence in dissuading them from intermarriage.

OTHER CAUSES OF DEAFNESS.

The causes which are most prolific in the production of deafness are:

I. Disease in infancy.

II. Intermarriage of deaf mutes.

III. Marriages of hearing and speaking people who have blood relationship.

The second of these I have already referred to. As regards the diseases which cause deafness the following statistics will show those which have the greatest tendency to produce it:

Out of 1886 pupils educated in the Illinois Institution, one of the largest on this. continent, 490 were born deaf. Cerebro spinal meningitis caused the deafness of 299; scarlet sever, 135; brain fever, 92; fever, 63; typhoid fever, 45; gathering in the head, 44; measles, 42; inflammation of the brain, 36; falls, 35; colds, 27; whooping cough, 24; pneumonia, 22; spasms, 21; excessive use of quinine, 15; diphtheria, 12; mumps, 7, and various diseases the rest.

In reference to the third cause of deafness, the relationship of parents, it is difficult to obtain correct information, although the example of royal personages in this particular might have made it fashionable.

Of the 490 born deaf in the above list 76 were children of first cousins, 17 of second cousins, 9 of third cousins, and 9 of fourth cousins.

If exact information could be ascertained on this point it would probably show that eight or ten per cent. of congenitally deaf children are due to this cause.

OUR PROPOSED NEW BUILDING.

Some unexpected difficulties having presented themselves in the course of our efforts to complete the necessary arrangements for the erection of our new building, the work to our regret has been considerably delayed. It is pleasant to report however that these obstacles have now been removed and we have every prospect of being located in more commodious premises during the course of the present year.

The importance of this step is becoming more and more apparent every day. It is evident from the statements made in a previous part of this report that our province has a high percentage of deaf mutes according to its population, really more than its share when compared with that of other countries. The fact that it increased from one in 933 to one in 800 of the general population during the decade of 1871 to 1881 is exceedingly suggestive of the future needs and wants of this section of our population.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

Grateful acknowledgments are hereby tendered to our numerous friends for the many favors received from them during the past year, and which have contributed in

no small degree to the pleasure and improvement of our pupils and to the general welfare of the institution. Our acknowledgments are especially due to our large circle of friends who have contributed so cheerfully from year to year towards the funds of the institution. Their kind aid has materially assisted us in maintaining the institu

tion in a state of efficiency.

Our sincere thanks are again due to Dr. Brown for his valuable and gratuitous services. No disease of an epidemic character visited us during the year just closed. We had the usual number of coughs, colds, etc, but all rapidly recovered when under the doctor's care. The boy with consumption referred to in the earlier part of the report is still able to walk about, but has not regained his usual strength.

Mr. George H. Davis merits our thanks for supplying the institution with free medicines, and Dr. Torrens for dental services. Numerous illustrated papers, The Maritime Farmer, Kansas Star, Deaf Mute Voice, pamphlets and magazines for children, and annual reports of deaf and dumb and other educational institutions, have been received with pleasure. They are a valued source of instruction and amusement. The Christmas and New Year holidays were spent very enjoyably by our pupils at the institution, none of them going home at this time. Their Christmas tree was gaily decorated with all kinds of fruit, toys to amuse in profusion, good and useful articles of clothing, the sweets of life in the shape of candies and confectionery, and some of Florida's best efforts ornamented its various branches, affording a pleasing contrast to the dark green of our native spruce. The distribution of such an array of good things. afforded much enjoyment as they were presented to the little hands already stretched forth to receive them. In this connection our thanks are due Messrs. W. H. Thorne, Manchester, Robertson & Allison, R. D. McArthur, W. L. Prince, C. M. Bostwick & Co., W. A. Porter, W. Kennedy and others. The annual visit of our committee, represented by Mr. G. T. Whelpley and Mr. D. Forgan, on New Year's day, was also a signal for rejoicing, expectation being rife as to the contents of the various parcels and packages which Sir John Allen and other gentlemen had so kindly provided for them. It is needless to add that their expectations were not disappointed. We cannot close this brief report without acknowledging the aid which our Local Legislature has extended to the institution for several years past. Without it we could not have carried on the work. We did not expect to realize and accomplish all we wished at We knew that "great events from small beginnings rise," and that to establish and build up a large and flourishing institution for the deaf mutes of New Brunswick would be a work of time and patience, and probably beset with numerous difficulties.

once.

An educated mute being questioned as to his knowledge of divine things previous to instruction replied: "I knew nothing about my soul, and had no definite idea of God. I regard my former state as a dark chaos of nothing, with the great Personage above as something dreadful and terrible, and my present enlightened state, as if a heavy cloud had passed away and left the resplendent and glorious rays of the Gospel reigning in bright and unbroken sunshine."

If, then, an intellectual course of training can accomplish such results as these and replace the dark clouds hovering over their untutored minds with rays of light, we may look forward to the future of this institution with renewed hope and confidence, trusting that as our opportunities increase we shall be the means of conveying to all

To the Chief Superintendent of Education, New Brunswick :

SIR:-The Halifax School for the Blind is doing good educational work for those deprived of sight, the particulars of which are fully set forth in the annual report of the Board of Managers and Superintendent. Twenty-seven pupils are now in attendance, and the governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland make annual appropriations for the support of the school. Kindergarten training has recently been introduced as well as a technical department for boys. Owing to the extent of the area from which the school draws its pupils it is practically impossible for the Superintendent to visit each town and village for the purpose of ascertaining the whereabouts of the youthful blind, and hence those who desire to aid this work can render valuable assistance, by supplying the Superintendent with the names and ages of any blind persons that they may know of, at the same time sending him the post office address of the parents or guardians. The teachers in our public. schools have exceptional facilities for obtaining this information, and it is to be hoped. that they will lend their aid in such an important work. Of the twenty-seven pupils in attendance, eight are from the Province of New Brunswick. Copies of the report may be had on application to the Superintendent of the school.