Modem Skills Can Help Mental Sub-Normality

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 8

Modem Skills Can Help Mental Sub-Normality

(Contributed) Sir Charles Burns, introduced the report of the mental deficiency subcommittee, British Medical Association (New Zealand branch), by saying: “In this age of scientific progress, when interested persons are looking for fresh fields to conquer, it is little wonder that there should be those who have dared to shine the torch of modern knowledge, and modern skills lit by the hand of human hope, into the dark, dank, ‘stagnant pool’ of mental sub-normality, that to our shame has been so long neglected.” Today it is being recognised that modern knowledge and modern skills can lift the intellectually-handicapped out of the dark, dank world which, in earlier years, was accepted as their inevitable lot. The problem is seen in its proper perspective. In particular, it is recognised that a first need is acceptance of the 6000 to 7000 intellectually handicapped by their New Zealand fellow men. The gaining of this acceptance, and the training, as far as is practicable, of the intellectually handicapped are therefore two of the main goals of the Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Society and its branches throughout New Zealand. A third objective is to aid parents of the intellectually handicapped to foresee problems or to solve them as they arise.

Intellectual handicap is the result of damaged brain tissue, occurring during pregnancy, birth, or soon after. During recent years many research workers have turned their attention to the causes of this damage.

Their efforts have been rewarded by some exciting discoveries, and their interest quickened by the promise of further knowledge. The impatience of families involved in the situation, who measure research done by causes revealed, can be understood. At least enough has been achieved to abandon, with other myths, the idea that the birth of an intellec-tually-handicapped baby is a judgment on the immorality or irresponsibility of the parents.

The development of a new being from the union of two cells is so delicate, and so complex, that the wonder is that there are not more, rather than less, born imperfect. The original germ cells themselves may be imperfect, the embryo may be delayed on its journey and so, in the first few days, not have ideal conditions for growth. Later the environment may be unsatisfactory because of some pressure, preventing normal growth, or some toxic condition that disturbs natural devi’opment. Causes The tragedy of the “thalidomide” babies was a high price to pay but it did alert

the medical world to the danger of the indiscriminate use of drugs during pregnancy.

“Hiroshima” still evokes such a sense of shame that all human citizens are agreed that, no matter what excesses the wielders of power politics may wish to indulge, never again should unborn babies be threatened or marred by irradiation. It is imperative that research should continue on the effects of irradiation from experiments in any part of the world. In 1942 an epidemic of German measles swept through Australia. Dr. N. Gregg, an eye specialist, later noted that an unusually high number of babies born during that year were blind. Many of them were also deaf and mentally retarded.

The doctor .investigated (he case histories and discovered that the afflicted babies were born to mothers who had had German measles while pregnant. It is now considered sensible that girls should oe exposed to this minor infection at an early age rather than endanger the mental health of a baby later.

Malnutrition is seldom •’ a direct cause of mental defect in New Zealand because, of the high standard of living. In a few cases, however, malnutrition as a side effect of alcoholism or ignorance may impair the developing embryo. ■, Whatever the original cause of the trouble it must be

recognised that each of the intellectually-handicapped children in New Zealand has a potential something to contribute to the community, is a challenge to our compassion, and provides an opportunity to us tp make good the claim that every individual has a part to play in human affairs.