The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-07-18
DEAF AND BLIND
10 the United States as Reported
by. the Census
NUMBER THOUSANDS.

The Total Number of Blind Is Nearly
Sixty.Five Thousand, and the
Total Number of Deaf
is Nearly Ninety
thousand.
The bureau of census has just issu.
ed a special report on the blind and
deaf in the United States in 1900.
The inquiry was conducted under the
direction of Dr.. Alexander Graham
Bell, who determined the scope Of the
investigation and wrote the text Of
the report on the deaf.
The report OF The blind gives not
only data concerning color, sex, na-
tivity, marital condition. school at.
tendance, and occupations, but also
much information in regard to the
age when blindness occurred and the
cause OF blindness.
The total number Of blind persons
In the United States In 1900 was 81,
763-or about one In every 1900 OF
the total population. There were
35,645 totally blind, and 20, 118 par
TALLY blind. These figures, however,
can be considered only as the mini
mum, as an unknown proportion Of
the blind were not located by the
enumefators. The number Of partial.
ly blind by no means represents the
facts as to defective eyesight, but re
presents only verified cases."
| OF the total number Of blind, 81.
O54, O. 81 2 per cent. were males, and
81, 700. or ~ 8 per cent. were females.
Since in the general population only
81. / per cent. were males and 1879 per
cent wsre females, it is evident that
blindness occurs more frequently
among males.
About IS per cent Of the blind re-
ported were totally blind and about
IS per cent. we're partially blind. A
slightly smaller proportion Of blind
males than OF blind females we're to-
tally blind.
Almost IS per cant. Of the blind be.
came blind after 20 years Of age, and
only a little more than 80 per cent.
before 20 years. Thus it Is seen that
blindness; Is chiefly defect OF adult
life. It is interesting to note that
about one fourth Of the persons blind
from childhood, or about one. tenth OF
the total number Of blind, we're born
blind.
The number Of blind per 100, 600 Of
population was greater among the
negroes than among the whites, and
greater among the foreign born whites
than among the native born whites,
the difference in each case being more
marked for the totally blind than for
the partially blind. Tie difference In
the proportions for the native and
the foreign born whites are due large
ly to the difference in the age distri-
buttons Of the two classes, the great
majority OF the foreign born whites
being adults, among whom blindness
is more common.
The most important causes OF blind
ness were, cataract; injuries, acci.
dents, and operations; congenital
blindness; old age; and sore eyes. Un'
known causes we're responsible for a
slightly greater proportion OF cases
than any OF the above causes.
The principal causes OF blindness
occurring after birth and under 20
years OF age were, injuries, accidents,
and operations; sore eyes; catsrrh;
measles; and scrofula. The principal
causes Of blindness occurring In adult
lite wer:, cataract; injuries, accidents,
and operations, old age, affections OF
the nervous apparatus, military ser'
vice, sore eyes and neuralgia.
The report on the deaf gives not
only tine date concerning color, sex,
race, nativity, marital conditions,
school attendance, and occupations,
but also much information in regard
to deafness IS a defect and to the
ability Of the deaf to communicate.
According to this method CT class.
ifcation, the total number OF deaf
was finally determined to be 89,27S,
or one In every $50 OF the general
population. There were 81, 426 total
ly deaf and 5l,S61 partially deaf.
Among the total number OF deaf g..
772 we're also blind and "a. 36e dumb.
OF the total number Of deaf, 49,
915, or 81. per cent. were males, and
AZ, 372, or Al 5 per cent. were females.
Since in the general population only
51.1 per cent. were males and 48. 9
Der cent. were females, 1t would seem
that there Is some truth In the hypo-
thesis that males are more exposed to
accidents than females, OF more sus-
oeptible to the diseases which pro-
duce deafness.
Negroes constitute 1l6 per cent. Of
the general population and only 81
per cent. OF the deaf. That the ne
groes seem less susceptible to deafness
than the whites Is probably due in
part to less com mplete returns from the
negroes deaf. The proportion OF ne
groes Is larger among these becoming
deaf in childhood and also among the
totally deaf than it is In the aggre'
gate deaf population.
Tie age when deafness occurred Is
definitely stated for 81 $50 persons,
aid OF these SO per cent. became deaf
before the age OF 20 years, 48 per
cent. before the age OF 10 years, snd
40 per cent. before the age OF 5 years,
and 1S per cent. were born deaf.
OF the totally deaf, 81 per cent.
were so from childhood (uader &c years
OF age), and SO per cent. from birth.
More than one half OF the totally deaf