f age until the age of 21, are compelled to be educated, with a
maximum of 8 years of instruction for each pupil.

Finland.

The census of 1873 showed that in Finland there were 7959 blind in a
total population of about 2,000,000 inhabitants, the proportion
reaching the very high figure of one for every 251 of the total
population. Nevertheless there were only 160 of school age. For these
there are two institutions, one at Helsingfors where the instruction
is given in the Swedish language, and where there are about 12 pupils,
and another at Kuopio, where the instruction is given in the Finnish
language, and where the pupils number about 30.

Austria.

According to information received from the I.R. Central Commission for
Statistics, the number of blind in the provinces represented in the
Austrian Reichsrath amounted to 15,582 in the year 1884. Of these,
2345 were children up to 15 years of age, namely 433 below 5, 779 from
5 to 10, and 1113 from 10 to 15 years. The total number of
institutions for blind children in Austria amounts to 8. The blind
children of school age who are not placed in special institutions are
compulsorily taught in the public general free schools, as far as
practicable. The number of blind in the whole dominion of the crown of
St Stephen was 208,391.

Italy.

The number of blind persons in Italy was 21,718, according to the
census of 1881, and those of school age were estimated to form 25% of
the whole, or about 5429 in number. But no special cognizance of the
blind is taken in the government census. There are 20 institutions,
schools and workshops for the blind.

Russia.

Statistics with regard to the number and condition of the blind in the
Russian empire are of a very limited character, and it is only of late
years that any attempt has been made to draw up any accurate returns
with regard to them. The total number of the blind throughout the
empire is generally reckoned at from 160,000 to 200,000, thus making
1600 to 2000 per million inhabitants. In Russia there are 21
institutions for the support of the blind.

Egypt

"In Egypt the blind are very numerous in comparison with other
countries, and although no exact statistics are at present obtainable
on this point, it is computed that the proportion is at least one
totally blind person to every 50 of the population. This is
princip