Statistics
returned; or (allowing for disturbing causes) 1 in every 1500 inhabitants. The proportion in all Europe is 1 in every 1593 persons. In Ireland it varies in different parts:?1 in 1794, in Leinster; 1 in 16S9, in Connaught; 1 in 1487, in Ulster; 1 in 1469, in Munster. It is more common in the rural than in the civic portions; and in the hilly than the flat districts. Of the whole number, 4151 were deaf and dumb; and of these, 2349 were males, and 1802 females,?or 100 men to 76'G1 females. 334 were dumb but not deaf. Deaf and dumb persons do not directly engender deaf and dumb children: thus, in 77 cases, one parent, and in 5^ instances both parents, were deaf and dumb; only two mute children resulted. Yet muteism is often manifest in several members of a family derived from a com'mon, though not a deaf and dumb stock. Thus, 2512 families had one mute child; 287, two .mutes; 127, three mutes; 32, four mutes; 8, five mutes; 3, six mutes; 1, seven mutes; 1, eight mutes. On inquiry, also, it is found that hereditary predisposition from ancestors could be traced in 281 cases; in 119 of which the taint descended through the father's side, and in 132 through the mother's.
The Journal of hand surgery, European volume