Every man has consequently, on an average, been reported sick about once in every six months, showing this region to be extraordinarily salubrious. The annual ratio of mortality, according to the medical reports, is per cent.; and of the adjutant-general's returns, 1 per cent.

Under the class of diseases of the respiratory organs are comprised 448 catarrh, 11 pneumonia, 29 pleuritis and 10 phthisis pulmonalis; under the head of digestive organs, 193 diarrhoea and dysentery, 149 colic and cholera, and 17 hepatitis; under the class of brain and nervous system, 'epilepsy. The total number of deaths, according to the post returns, is 20. Of these, 3 are from phthisis pulmonalis, I pleuritis, 2 chronic hepatitis, I gastric enteritis, I splenitis, etc.

Every man on an average is consequently reported sick once in eight months and a half.

Under the class of diseases of the respiratory organs are included 1,048 of catarrh, 28 pneumonia, 75 pleuritis and 13 phthisis pulmonalis; under the head of digestive organs, 933 diarrhoea and dysentery, and 195 colic and cholera; under the head of brain and nervous diseases, 7 epilepsy, etc. The total of deaths, according to the post returns, is 94, the annual ratio being 2 per cent. The causes of death are: 6 phthisis pulmonalis, 6 epidemic cholera, I common cholera, 4 remittent fever, 3 dysentery, etc. In the third quarter of 1830 there were 154 cases of fever, while the same quarter of 1836, with a greater strength, affords but one case, the difference seeming to depend upon the temperature.

The relative agency of the seasons in the production of disease in general is shown in the annexed table:

Consequently every man on an average has been reported sick once in nearly every four months. But high as this ratio of sickness is, at this fort, and, indeed, at the others, it is low considering the topographical surroundings of the posts. But besides these injurious topographical and other influences already alluded to, there were still other elements of mischief among the men at these stations, such as "bad bread and bad whisky," and salt meat, a dietary table giving rise, if not to "land-scurvy," as was the case at the posts lower down in the Mississippi valley (more fatal than either small-pox or cholera), at least to its concomitant diseases.

The reason for using these early data of the United States Army medical reports in preference to later ones is, that even though the later ones may be somewhat more correct in certain particulars, the former serve to establish, as it were, a connecting link (though a long one) between the historical sketch of the diseases of the Indian and those of the white settler; and again— these posts being no longer occupied- no further data are obtainable.

To continue this historical account of the diseases of Wisconsin, we must now nave recourse to the state institutions.

THE INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND.

The first charitable institution established by the state was formally opened in 1850, at Janesville. The census of 1875 showed that there were 493 blind persons in the state, those of school age that is―under 20 years of age, probably amounting to 125. The number of pupils in the institution that year, 82; the average for the past ten years being 68. If the health report of the institution is any indication of the salubrity of its location, then, indeed, is Janesville in this respect an enviable city. Its report for 1876 gives one death from consumption, and a number of cases of whooping-cough, all recovered. In 1875, ten cases of mild scarlet fever, recovered. One severe and two mild cases of typhoid fever, recovered. For 1873, no sick list. For 1872, the mumps went through the school. For 1871, health of the school reasonably good; few cases of severe illness have occurred.

THE INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.

This was organized in June, 1852, at Delavan. The whole number of deaf and dumb persons in the state, as shown by the census of 1875, was 720. The report for 1866 gives the number of pupils as 156.

Little sickness, a few cases of sore throat, and slight bowel affections comprise nearly all the ailments; and the physician's report adds: "The sanitary reports of the institution from its earliest history to the present date has been a guarantee of the healthiness of the location. Having gone carefully over the most reliable tabulated statements of deaf-mutism, its parent

age, its home, its causes, and its origin, we would most earnestly call the attention of the public to the fact that the chief cause comes under the head of congenital, 75 of the 150 pupils in this institution having this origin. Such a fearful proportion as this must of necessity have its origin in a cause or causes proportionately fearful. Nor, fortunately, is the causation a mystery, since most careful examination leaves not a shadow of doubt that consanguineous marriages are the sources of this great evil. Without occupying further space by illustrative tables and arguments, we would simply direct the attention of our legislators and thoughtful men to the law of this diswhich is, that the number of deaf and dumb, imbeciles, and idiots is in direct keeping with the degree of consanguinity. With such a law and exhibit before us, would not a legislative inquiry into the subject, with the view of adopting preventive means, be a wise step? The evil is fearful; the cause is plain; so, too, is the remedy."

ease

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS.

This institution is situated on the banks of the Fox river, at Waukesha, and was organized in 1860. The whole number of the inmates since it was opened in July, 1860, to October 10, 1876, was 1,291. The whole number of inmates for 1876 was 415. Of these, since the period of opening up to date, October, 1876, 25 have died: 8, of typhoid fever; 1, of typhoid erysipelas; 1, of gastric fever; 3, of brain fever; 1, nervous fever; 2, congestion of the lungs; 2, congestive chills; 5, of consumption; 1 of dropsy; and 1 of inflammatory rheumatism.

THE STATE PRISON.

This was located at Waupun in July, 1857. On September 30, 1876, there were 266 inmates. But one death from natural causes occurred during the year. The health of the prisoners has been unusually good, the prevalent affections attendant upon the seasons, of a mild and manageable character.

STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

This institution, located near Madison, was opened for patients in July, 1860. The total number of admissions down to the year 1877, was 1,227 males, 1,122 females, total 2,349. Over one half of these have been improved; nearly one third recovered; while less than one quarter have been discharged unimproved. Total number of deaths, 288. At the commencement of the year, October 1, 1875, there were in the hospital 376 patients. In the report for the year ending September 30, 1876, we find the past year has been one of unusual health in the hospital. No serious epidemic has prevailed, although 20 deaths have been reported, 7 fatally ill before admission, 4 worn-out cases, etc. Insanity, coming as it does, under this head of an article on State Health, is of the highest interest from a state point of view, not only because so much may be done to remedy it, but that still more can and ought to be done by the state to prevent it. Our insane amount to 1 in 700 of the whole population, the total number in hospitals, poor-houses and prisons being in round numbers 1,400. It is a striking fact, calling for our earnest consideration, that the Germans, Irish and Scandinavians import and transn.it more insanity-three to onethan the American-born population produce. The causes assigned for this disparity, are, as affecting importation, that those in whom there is an hereditary tendency to disease constitute the migratory class, for the reason that those who are sound and in the full possession of their powers are most apt to contend successfully in the struggle to live and maintain their position at home; while those who are most unsound and unequal to life's contests are unable to migrate. In other words, the strongest will not leave, the weakest can not leave. By this, the character of the migratory is defined. As affects transmission, poverty is a most fruitful parent of insanity, so too is poor land. Says Dr. Boughton, superintendent of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane:

Wisconsin is characterized by a large poor class, especially in the northern part of the state, where people without means have settled on new and poorly paying farms, where their life is made up of hard work, exposure to a severe climate, bad and insufficient diet, cheerless homes, etc., etc. These causes are prolific in the production of insanity. It is easy, therefore, to trace the causes that give us so large a per cent. of insane in many of the counties of the state. Nor is it of less interest to know, as Dr. B. adds: We draw our patients from those families where phthisis pulmonalis, rheumatism and insanity prevail. Insanity and rheumatism are interchangeable in hereditary cases, so too are insanity and phithisis. What may be accomplished by intelligent efforts to stem the increase of insanity in our state? Much. Early treatment is one means, this is of course curative in its character. And its necessity and advantage are well illustrated in table No. 10 of the annual report of Dr. Boughton, for 1876, where it is seen that 45.33 of males, and 44.59 of the females who had been sent to the State Hospital having been insane but three months before admission, were cured, the proportion of cures becoming less in proportion to the longer duration of insanity before admission. As a preventive means, the dissemination of the kind of knowledge that shows indisputably that insanity is largely hereditary, and consequently that intermarriage with families so tainted should on the one hand be avoided by the citizen, and on the other hand, perhaps, prevented by the state, (congress at the same time restraining or preventing as far as possible persons so tainted from settling in this country.) By the state, inasmuch as the great burthen of caring for the insane falls upon the state. Still other preventive means are found in the improved cultivation of our lands and in our improved education; in fact, in whatever lessens the trials of the poor and lifts them out of ignorance and pauperism. It is only by culture, says Hufeland, that man acquires perfection, morally, mentally and physically. His whole organization is so ordered that he may either become nothing or anything, hyperculture and the want of cultivation being alike destructive.

THE NORTHERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

This hospital was opened at Oshkosh, May, 1873. The total number under treatment September 30, 1876 was— males 246, females 257, total 503. No ailment of an epidemic character has affected the health of the household, which has been generally good. The report of Dr. Kempster is full of suggestive matter for the legislator and sociologist.

CITY OF MILWAUKEE,

Still adhering to the plan, in writing the sanitary history of the state, of gathering up all the health statistics which properly belong to us, we now take up those of Milwaukee, the only city in Wisconsin, so far as we know, that has kept up a system of statistics of its diseases. The city is built on each side of the mouth of Milwaukee river, on the west shore of Lake Michigan in lat. 43° 3′ 45′′ N., long. 87° 57′ W., and is considered remarkable for its healthy climate. The board of health has furnished us with its report for 1870 and downward.. The character of its mortality from June 19, 1869, to March 31, 1870, is thus summarized: In children under five years of age, 758 out of 1,249 deaths, consumption, 93; convulsions, 128; cholera infantum, 59; diarrhoea, 128; scarlet fever, 132; typhoid fever, 52; inflammation of the lungs, 41; stillborn, 79. This disproportionate number of still-born children is attributed in part to a laxity of morals. The deaths from consumption in Milwaukee are 71⁄2 out of every 100, one third less out of like number of deaths than in San Francisco, in which city, in 4,000 deaths, 441 died of consumption, being 11 out of every 100 deaths for the year ending July, 1869. The deaths for 1870 numbered 1,655, the population being at the last census report, 71,636.

Glasgow has 39 to every 1,000; Liverpool, 36; London, 25; New Orleans, 54; New York, 32; San Francisco, 24; Milwaukee, 21. Among seventeen of the principal cities of the Union, Milwaukee ranks the ninth in rate of mortality. An impression has prevailed that Milwaukee is subject to a large and disproportionate amount of lung and allied diseases. Statistics disprove this, its deaths from consumption being only 6 per cent., while those of Chicago are 7.75; of St. Louis, 9.68; of Cincinnati, 11.95; and of Boston, 19.31. But few cases of malarial disease occur in Milwaukee, and fewer cases of intestinal fever than in the interior of the state. The mortality among children is explained by its occurring chiefly among the poor foreign-born population, where all that can incite and aggravate disease is always to be found.

This, (the historical part of the health article), will doubtless call forth from the profession much additional and desirable matter, but excepting what will further appear under the head of Madison it is proper to say that we have exhausted the sources of information on the subject within our reach.

HEALTH RESORTS.

Next in order would seem to come some notice of the summer and health resorts of Wisconsin, which, significant of the salubrity of the state, are not only becoming more numerous, but also more frequented from year to year.

Madison, the capital of the state, with a population of 11,000, is built on an isthmus between two considerable lakes, from 70 to 125 feet above their level; 80 miles west of Milwaukee, in latitude 43° 5' north, and longitude 89° 20' west, in the northern temperate region. The lake basins, and also the neck of land between them, have a linear arrangement, trending northeast and southwest. The same linear topography characterises the whole adjacent country and the boundary lines of its various geological formations, this striking feature being due to the former movement of glacier ice over the face of the country. At two points, one mile apart, the Capitol and University hills, respectively 348 and 370 feet above the level of Lake Michigan, rise prominently above the rest of the isthmus. Both of these hills are heaps of drift material from 100 to 126 feet thickness, according to the record of the artesian well. The neck of land on which Madison stands is of the same material. The same boring discloses to us the underlying rock structure, penetrating 614 feet of friable quartzose sandstone belonging to the Potsdam series, 10% feet of red shale belonging to the same series, and 2091⁄2 feet of crystalline rocks belonging to the Archæan. In the country immediately around Madison, the altitude is generally considerably greater, and the higher grounds are occupied by various strata, nearly horizontal, of sandstone and limestone. The Potsdam sandstone rises about 30 feet above the level of Lake Mendota, on its northern shore, where at McBride's Point it may be seen overlaid by the next and hitherto unrecognized layer, one of more or less impure, dark-colored, magnesian limestone, to which the name of Mendota is assigned, and which furnishes a good building stone. The descent of these strata is about