Scotland. According to the census of 1861, the total number As compared with the previous census, the propor- Ages of Males and Females returned as Blind in The following Table will give some idea of the inequalities that exist between the ages of persons afflicted with blindness and the general population of Scotland; and will also show how powerfully the increase of years tends to produce loss of sight. 1,410,590, or about 46 per cent. 889,345, or about 29 per cent. Note.-In the total population there were 2695 cases in which no ages were returned. The following Table will show the relative numbers of the blind in the various counties of Scotland, the institutions that exist for the education and employment of the sightless, and the number of persons assisted by such establishments. The first institution for the blind in Scotland was commenced in Edinburgh about the year 1793 by Mr. David Miller, himself blind, and by Dr. David Johnston, of Leith; since which time four other institutions have been established, some particulars concerning which will be found in the following Table : : Moon's system of reading is used in the five Scotch institutions, but Alston's is specially supported at Glasgow, and is also employed at both the Edinburgh institutions. The pentagonal arithmetic board, pricked writing, and maps of wood, needlework, and paper are in general use, and there is an excellent globe at the Edinburgh Asylum. The training of the young does not receive as much attention at institutions for the blind of Scotland as in England, but this is more than counterbalanced by the excellent parental training received by the children at their homes. Music is not cultivated at any of the institutions as a future means of livelihood, but the increasing use of organs in Presbyterian churches may probably soon. open a field for the blind in this direction, which will doubtless be turned to good account. And it is to be hoped that pianoforte tuning and teaching may also receive the attention they merit. The industrial arts carried on by the blind of North Britain are mattress and bed-making, and the manufacture of baskets, mats, matting, sacking, sacks and hair cloth, and brushes; also knitting and needlework, and twine spinning is in use at Glasgow to a small extent. Mattress and bed-making are chiefly successful at the Edinburgh Asylum, but at Glasgow they are found of little use. At Edinburgh, Glasgow, and it is believed at the other institutions, sighted persons are employed in making many of the articles manufactured. A very large proportion of the amount annually received on account of sales by the Edinburgh Asylum is derived from goods made by the sighted, and bought by the institution for resale; and this practice while it produces considerable profit, at the same time gives increased facilities for the disposal of |