This may conveniently be discussed under (1) Predisposing causes, and (2) Exciting causes. 1.--PREDISPOSING CAUSES. _Sex and Sexual Conditions._--In one hundred unselected cases of epilepsy there were-- Males, 47 per cent. Females, 53 per cent. showing that practically the sexes were affected in equal proportions. Of the females there were-- Unmarried, 58.5 per cent. Married, 41.5 per cent. The greater number amongst the unmarried females is probably due to the list including children, and also to the fact that epilepsy is not an attraction to a man who purposes matrimony. Of the married females-- The attacks were uninfluenced by marriage in 68.1 per cent. The attacks were diminished after marriage in 27.2 per cent. The attacks were increased after marriage in 4.5 per cent. Thus, in the majority of cases, marriage seems to have no influence on the epileptic attacks of women, although in 27.2 per cent. the fits appear to have been diminished after that ceremony. Of the married females there were-- Children in 82.3 per cent. No children in 17.6 per cent. _Age._--In one hundred cases the age at which the first attack of epilepsy took place will be seen from the following tables:-- Males. Females. Total. From 1 to 10 years 9 14 23 From 10 to 20 years 11 23 34 From 20 to 30 years 14 9 23 From 30 to 40 years 10 6 16 From 40 to 50 years 1 0 1 From 50 to 60 years 2 1 3 It will thus be seen that, in males, the most prevalent period for the first invasion of epilepsy is from the tenth to the thirtieth year; in females, from the first to the twentieth year. In both sexes the disease rarely commences after forty. The following table shows the ages of the patients under observation:-- Males. Females. Total. From 1 to 10 years 4 1 5 From 0 to 20 years 10 20 30 From 20 to 30 years 17 15 32 From 30 to 40 years 11 9 20 From 40 to 50 years 2 6 8 From 50 to 60 years 3 2 5 This indicates that cases of epilepsy comparatively rarely come under observation after the age of forty. A large series of cases would however be required to determine any definite conclusions as to the mortality and longevity of the patients. _Occupation and Profession._--These do not appear to have any special relation to the production of epilepsy. _Hereditary Tendency._--In each of the cases under observation a very careful inquiry was made into the family history. This was confined to the parents, grand parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and children of the patient. The following are the results:--