it is impossible to demonstrate, whether lunacy is increasing, stationary,or diminishing, in proportion to the advancement of the population, for want of definite and reliable facts,to show,how many lunatics there are now, and still less to show, how many there have been at any previous period.Wanting these two facts,we cannot mathematically compare the numbers of insane or their proportions to the whole people at any two distinct periods of time, and thus determine whether lunacy increases or retrogrades.