Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-05-21
Marriages of Consancufnitx.

In the National Medical Association lately in session
in Washington City, Dr. S. M. Bemis, of Kentucky
read able and learned report on the influence Of
marriages of consanguinty upon ofspring' of which
the following is abstract:
Your reporter has made great effort to ascertain the
proximate percentage of the deaf and dumb and blind
in asyums, who the descendants of blood inter-
marriages. This effort has not heen successful from the
difficulty principals Of such institutions find in gaining
the requisite facts. Parents often sensitive on this
score and it is delicate matter for principals TO at
tempt Investigations which the friends Of the beneficial
ries suppose be unauthorized by the regulations of
their various institutions.
feel however, that my researches give authority
to say that per cent Of the deaf and dumb and
over five per cent of the blind and nearly fifteen per Ct
of the dotic in our State institutions for subjects of
those defects, are the offspring Of kindred parents.
Aside from the facts which have gained by cores
pondng with gentlemen who have given close attention
to these points, curious but perfectly legitimate pro-
cess of computation confirms me in the opinion that
those estimates are very nearly correct. The class
es G, D. E, F, g. give 1877 marriages of cousins 246
of which have given issue to deaf and dumb blind di-
otic or insane children. Admitting the same ratio to
prevail the Ohio report which contains l57 marriages
of cousins followed by deaf and dumb blind diotic,
insane offspring, would indicate the existence of 332
other marriages of cousins in the population not
followed by such defects. The counties which furnish
this 81 marriages. above and supposed to
prise in their limits 332 unrepored marriages, making
total of 483, contained in 1850 population of 1928,
238. If the ratio be supposed to exist throughout
the Union, there would be found to the twenty millions
of white inhabitants six thousand three hundred and
twentyone marriages of cousins giving birth to 5000
deaf and dumb blind idioc, and insane children, dis
| trbuted as follows
| Deaf and dumb. LILO
| Rlind Observation-Disclosures. 648
IdiOtic. Observation-Disclosures. S54
Insane. Observation-Disclosures. 299
Then if the figures of the last United States census
still applied to population, there would now be
found in the Union
| 9,136 deaf and dumb, of whom l 1,ll6, or 1913 per
cent, children OF cousins.
| 1913 blind of whom 648, or 08.l per cent, are
| children of cousins.
14257 idotic of whom l,844, Or 1.29 per cent, are
| children of cousins
1892 insane, of whom 299, or Ol9 per cent, are
! children of cousins
invite the attention of gentlemen of this association
to this calculation Of probabilities either to confute
confirm it by any facts in their possession.
very cursory examination of the tables OF my report
will suffice to show that part pGssu with the increment
of the blood the of defects of offspring is like
wise increased Glasses and G present exceptions to
this rule AS regards D. the supposed reason for this
deviation has been already stated namely that its NOR
talty list is so large while class presents few OBJ
servatons to satisfy that they attracted notice
| solely because of their unfavorable results
New TREASURY LoAN.-Of the $5,OOO,0OO loan just
awarded by the Secretary of the Treasury $450OOOO
was taken at l031sal04A leaving only $50000O at a
higher rate This is another evidence of the abundance
of capital lying idle. As the Government will doubtless
require another and much larger loan to meet all the
demands to be made upon it matter of prudence
and of good policy, it would be well bill were passed
at an early day for this purpose, for probably at no
period will Secretary Cobb have favorable oppor-
tunity of affecting loan and at low rate of interest
as at the present time
Business must soon resume its wontet vigor and ac-
tivty, when the vast of capital remaining
idle in the banks waiting some favorable opportunity
for investment will flow into the various channels of trade
and commerce, from whence no or per cent per
mum will draw it. Now, then is the time for heavy
oan and the the Government authorizes one the
more money will it save to itself-Er paper.
A JEWEL OF A GIRL-One of our exchanges speaks
of beautiful girl who would prove capital specula
ton for fortune hunter OF the right sort Her voice
svery her hair golden, her teeth peary her cheeks o
ruhies, and her eyes Of dimonds