Volume 4, Slice 1 Part 20
Ireland.
According to the census of 1901, there were 4253 totally blind persons in Ireland, a proportion of 954 per million, as against 1135 in 1891.
Of these, 2430 were over 60 years of age and 11 over 100. These figures do not include the partially blind, who numbered 1217. The fact that so many aged blind persons are to be found in Ireland is doubtless due to an ophthalmic epidemic which occurred during the Irish famine. There are twelve inst.i.tutions, a home mission and home teaching society; nine of these inst.i.tutions are asylums, that system having been largely adopted in Ireland. The scarcity of manufacturing industries, except in a few northern counties, entails a lack of work suited to the blind. The Elementary Education Act (Blind and Deaf) does not extend to Ireland.
The following table gives the number of blind in age-groups in 1901:--
+---------------+---------+----------------+---------+
Age-Period.
Number.
Age-Period.
Number.
+---------------+---------+----------------+---------+
Under 5 years
10
50-55
392
5-10
38
55-60
314
10-15
64
60-65
617
15-20
73
65-70
382
20-25
95
70-75
540
25-30
116
75-80
306
30-35
146
80-85
372
35-40
146
85-90
118
40-45
205
95 and upwards
95
45-50
224
+---------------+---------+----------------+---------+
British Colonies.
In the Dominion of Canada, South Africa, the states of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand, provision is made by the government for the education of the young blind, and in some cases for training the adults in handicrafts. Embossed literature is carried free of expense, and on the Victorian railways no charge is made for the guide who accompanies a blind person.
The following were the census returns for 1901:--
Victoria 1082 Tasmania 173 New South Wales 884 New Zealand 274 (1891) South Australia 315 Natal 68 Queensland 209 Cape Colony 2802 (1904) West Australia 121 Canada 3279
In Australia there are inst.i.tutions for the blind at Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brighton, Brisbane and Maylands near Perth. In New Zealand the inst.i.tution is at Auckland.
In Cape Colony between 1875 and 1891, there was an extraordinary increase in blindness, but between 1891 and 1904 the rate per 10,000 has decreased 23.78%. There is an inst.i.tution at Worcester for deaf-mutes and blind, founded in 1881. It is supported by a government grant, fees and subscription.
Schools for the blind were established by the Dominion government at Brantford, Ontario (1871), and Halifax, Nova Scotia (1867).
In Montreal there are two private inst.i.tutions, the M'Kay Inst.i.tute for Protestant Deaf-Mutes and Blind, and a school for Roman Catholic children under the charge of the Sisters of Charity.
United States.
In the United States the education of the blind is not regarded as a charity, but forms part of the educational system of the country, and is carried on at the public expense. According to the _Annual Report_ of the Commissioner of Education for 1908, there were 40 state schools, with 4340 pupils. The value of apparatus, grounds and buildings was $9,201,161. For salaries and other expenditure, the aggregate was $1,460,732. The United States government appropriates $10,000 annually for printing embossed books, which are distributed among the different state schools for the blind. Beside these state schools, there are workshops for the blind subsidized by the state government or the munic.i.p.ality. Commissions composed of able men have recently been appointed in several of the states to take charge of the affairs of the blind from infancy to old age. The exhaustive summary of the 12th census enables these commissions to communicate with every blind person in their respective states.
At the 12th census a change was made in the plan for securing the returns, and the work of the enumerators was restricted to a brief preliminary return, showing only the name, s.e.x, age, post office address, and nature of the existing defects in all persons alleged to be blind or deaf. Dr Alexander Graham Bell, of Washington, D.C., was appointed expert special agent of the census office for the preparation of a report on the deaf and blind. He was empowered to conduct in his own name a correspondence relating to this branch of the census inquiry.
A circular containing eighteen questions was addressed to every blind person given in the census, and from the data contained in the replies the following tables (I., II., III., IV.) have been compiled.
TABLE I.--_The Blind, by Degree of Blindness and s.e.x._
+----------------------------+--------+---------+-----------+
The
The
The
s.e.x.
Blind.
Totally
Partially
Blind.
Blind.
+----------------------------+--------+---------+-----------+
Number--
Total
64,763
35,645
29,118
Male
37,054
20,144
16,190
Female
27,709
15,501
12,208
+----------------------------+--------+---------+-----------+
Per cent distribution--
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
Male
57.2
56.5
58.1
Female
42.8
43.5
41.9
Number per 1,000,000
population of same s.e.x--
Both s.e.xes
852
469
383
Male
955
519
436
Female
745
417
328
+----------------------------+--------+---------+-----------+
TABLE II.--_The Blind, by Degree of Blindness, Age-Periods, Colour and Nativity._
+--------------------------+----------+----------------------------+----------+
White.
Degree of Blindness and
All +--------+---------+---------+ Coloured.
Age-Period.
Cla.s.ses.
Total.
Native.
Foreign-
born.
+--------------------------+----------+--------+---------+---------+----------+
Number--
The blind
64,763
56,535
45,479
10,694
8228
Under 20 years
8,308
7,252
6,937
231
1056
20 years and over
56,165
49,067
38,388
10,420
7098
Age unknown
290
216
154
43
74
+--------------------------+----------+--------+---------+---------+----------+
The totally blind
35,645
30,359
23,636
6,511
5286
Under 20 years
4,123
3,543
3,377
129
580
20 years and over
31,363
26,704
20,179
6,636
4639
Age unknown
159
112
80
19
27
+--------------------------+----------+--------+---------+---------+----------+
The partially blind
29,118
26,176
21,843
4,183
2942
Under 20 years
4,185
3,709
3,560
102
476
20 years and over
24,802
22,363
18,209
4,057
2439
Age unknown
131
104
74
24
27
+--------------------------+----------+--------+---------+---------+----------+
Number per 1,000,000
population of same age--
The blind
852
846
804
1,047
896
Under 20 years
247
250
248
215
229
20 years and over
1,334
1,305
1,348
1,143
1574
+--------------------------+----------+--------+---------+---------+----------+
The totally blind
469
454
418
637
576
Under 20 years
123
122
121
120
126
20 years and over
745
710
708
698
1033
+--------------------------+----------+--------+---------+---------+----------+
The partially blind
383
392
386
410
320
Under 20 years
124
128
127
95
103
20 years and over
589
595
639
445
541
+--------------------------+----------+--------+---------+---------+----------+
The enumerators reported a total of 101,123 persons alleged to be blind as defined in the instructions contained in the schedules, but this number was greatly reduced as a result of the correspondence directly with the individuals, 8842 reporting that the alleged defect did not exist, and 6544 that they were blind only in one eye but were able to see with the other, and hence did not come within the scope of the inquiry. No replies were received in 19,884 cases in which personal schedules were sent, although repeated inquiries were made; consequently these cases were dropped. In 380 cases the personal schedules returned were too incomplete for use, and in 75 cases duplication was discovered. The number of cases remaining for statistical treatment, after making the eliminations and corrections, was 64,763, representing 35,645 totally blind, and 29,118 partially blind. This number, however, can be considered only as the minimum, as an unknown proportion of the blind were not located by the enumerators, and doubtless a considerable proportion of the 19,884 persons who failed to return the personal schedules should be included in the total.
"Blindness, either total or partial, is so largely a defect of the aged, and occurs with so much greater frequency as the age advances and the population diminishes, that in any comparison of the proportion of the blind in the general population of different cla.s.ses, such as native and foreign-born whites, or white and coloured, the age distribution of the population of each cla.s.s should be constantly borne in mind. The differences in this respect account for many of the differences in the gross ratios, and it is only when ratios are compared for cla.s.ses of population of identical ages that their relative liability to blindness can be properly inferred."
Table II. shows the cla.s.sification, by degree of blindness, of the blind under twenty years of age, twenty years of age and over, and of unknown age, with respect to colour and nativity, with the number at the specified ages per million of population in the same age-group.
The relationship or consanguinity of parents of the 64,763 blind was reported in 56,507 cases, in 2527 (or 4.5%) of which the parents were related as cousins.
In 57,726 cases the inquiry as to the existence of blind relatives was answered; 10,967 (or 19%) of this number reported that they had blind relatives.
Of the 2527 blind persons whose parents were cousins, 993 (or 39.3%) had blind relatives,--844 having blind brothers, sisters or ancestors, and 149 having blind collateral relatives or descendants.
Of the 53,980 blind whose parents were not related, 9490 (or 17.6%) had blind relatives, 7395 having blind brothers, sisters or ancestors, and 2095 having blind collateral relatives or descendants.
It was found that, of the 2527 blind whose parents were cousins, 632 (or 25%) were congenitally blind, of whom 350 (or 55.4%) had also blind relatives of the cla.s.ses specified; while, among the 53,980 whose parents were not so related, the number of congenitally blind was 3666 (or but 6.8%), of whom only 1023 (or 27.9%) had blind relatives.
France.
In 1883 the number of blind in France was estimated at 32,056, the total population of the country being 38,000,000; 2548 of the blind were under, and 29,508 above, 21 years of age; of the former 857 were receiving instruction in 21 schools supported by the state, by the city of Paris, by some of the departments, and by some religious bodies. The four Parisian inst.i.tutions are the Inst.i.tution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles, the ecole Braille (founded in 1883), the etabliss.e.m.e.nt des Soeurs Aveugles de St Paul (founded in 1852), and that of the Freres de Saint Jean de Dieu (founded in 1875).
TABLE III.--_The Blind, by Degree of Blindness and Age-Periods._
+--------------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
The
The
The
Age-Period.
Blind.
Totally
Partially
Blind.
Blind.
+--------------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
Number--
All Ages
64,763
35,645
29,118
Under 10 years
2,307
1,262
1,045
10-19 years
6,001
2,861
3,140
20-29 "
4,861
2,851
2,010
30-39 "
5,024
3,077
1,947
40-49 "
6,504
3,778
2,726
50-59 "
8,530
4,791
3,739
60-69 "
10,507
5,835
4,672
70-79 "
11,421
6,132
5,289
80-89 "
7,490
3,885
3,605
90-99 "
1,596
851
745
100 years and over
232
163
69
Age unknown
290
159
131
Number per 1,000,000
population of same age--
All ages
852
469
383
Under 10 years
128
70
58
10-19 years
384
183
201
20-29 "
351
206
145
30-39 "
478
293
185
40-49 "
845
491
354
50-59 "
1,655
930
725
60-69 "
3,396
1,886
1,510
70-79 "
8,136
4,368
3,768
80-89 "
22,022
11,423
10,599
90-99 "
52,746
28,125
24,621
100 years and over
66,210
46,518
19,692
Age unknown
1,446
793
653
+--------------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
Germany.
The number of the blind in Germany was about 39,000, or 870 per million in 1885. The number of inst.i.tutions was 28, nearly all being educational, with a total of 2139 pupils. All these inst.i.tutions, except two which are supported entirely by private munificence, are largely a.s.sisted by the state, the communes or the provinces.
Seventeen of them derive their entire requirements from the state, so that they are quite independent of private charity, while the remainder are only supplemented from public funds so far as the private contributions fall short of the expenses.
Saxony system.
The following extracts were made from an official communication from Hofrath b.u.t.tner, director of the inst.i.tution for the blind in Dresden, to the royal commission, concerning the care and supervision (_Fursorge_) of the blind after their discharge from the inst.i.tution:--
"When twenty years of age, the blind are usually discharged from the inst.i.tution. Long experience has taught us that the care and supervision of the blind after their discharge from the inst.i.tution are quite as important as their education and training in the inst.i.tution. It would, in our opinion, be unjust to remove them from their sad surroundings, educate and accustom them to higher wants, and then allow them to sink backward into their former miserable way of life. After much deliberation it was decided to remain in connexion with the discharged blind, to visit them in their places of abode, to learn their wants, to study the difficulties which they experienced in supporting themselves independently, and, as far as possible, to remove their grievances. Director Georgi began this work in 1843.
Director Reinhard continued it from 1867 to 1879, and the present director has followed the same path. With the knowledge of these difficulties the _Fursorge_ (care) for discharged blind steadily advanced, and has won the confidence of the Saxon people. It was decided that, on the discharge of the blind person, the director should select a trustworthy person, residing in his future place of abode, to give him advice and practical help, to protect him from imposition, and to keep up communication with the director. If this guardian is unable to advise or help, he then writes to the director, who, if necessary, comes to the place, and this is all the easier as he travels free on all railways in Saxony. The result of these visits, as well as all communications from the guardian, the letters from the blind person, and every doc.u.ment relating to him, are entered in a register kept at the inst.i.tution. These guardians are respectable, benevolent, practical men, capable of procuring custom for their wards. But there was no doubt that, in spite of these arrangements, the discharged blind were unable to support themselves without the a.s.sistance of capital, whether in money or outfit. The blind man can do as good work as the man who can see; but as a rule he does not work so quickly, and if the man who is not blind has to use every exertion to support himself and his family, the blind man to do the same requires some special help, without which he will either not be able to compete, or will have to lead a life of great privation.
"The first difficulty when a blind pupil is starting in life is to provide himself with the necessary tools and material. These the inst.i.tution supplies to him, and continues through life to afford him moral and material help; and by this means the greater part of the blind are enabled to save money for sickness and old age. Those who cannot return to their relations cannot at once meet all their expenses, and the weak and old need special help. A part of the money for their board and lodging is paid for those who have to be settled in other places on account of the death or untrustworthiness of their relatives.
"The fund for the discharged blind is administered by the director of the inst.i.tution. The number of those a.s.sisted amounts at present to about 400, who live respectably in all parts of Saxony, are almost self-supporting, and feel themselves free men. For, just as a son does not feel galled by a gift from his father, so they are not ashamed to receive a.s.sistance from their second paternal home, the inst.i.tution."
Holland.
The number of the blind in Holland, according to the census of the 1st of December 1869, was 1593, or one in every 2247 of the general population. The Protestants and Roman Catholics were about equally balanced. No cognizance was taken of the blind in the census of 1879.
There is only one blind inst.i.tution, that of Amsterdam, with 60 pupils, with a preparatory school at Benuchem (with 20 pupils) and an asylum for adults with 52 inmates (unmarried). Besides these, there are workshops at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, Utrecht and Middelburg.
Denmark.
According to the census of 1870, there were in Denmark 1249 blind (577 males and 672 females), or one blind for every 1428 persons. One inst.i.tution has been established by government, i.e. the Royal Inst.i.tution for the Blind, at Copenhagen; 100 children, aged 10 and upwards, are here educated. There is a preparatory school for blind children under 10 years of age, and an asylum for blind females, most of whom are former pupils of the royal school. An a.s.sociation for promoting the self-dependence of the blind a.s.sists not only former pupils of the school but every blind man or woman willing and able to work.
TABLE IV.--_The Blind, by Consanguinity of Parents, Degree of Blindness, and Blind Relatives of Other Cla.s.ses._
