PROBLEM OF MENTAL DEFECTIVES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 14, 11 October 1927, Page 3

PROBLEM OF MENTAL DEFECTIVES

AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR’S INVESTIGATIONS

Dominion Special Service. ? (Auckland, October 10.

An extensive investigation of what is being done in other countries in the matter of treating mental defective cases has been completed by Dr. A, J. W. Philpott, superintendent of the Receiving Home for Mental Defective Cases at Melbourne. Dr. Philpott is a through passenger by the Aorangi to Sydney; “Great advances have been made in treating cases of paralysis by the injection of malaria,” stated Dr. Philpott. “This treatment is proving very effective on cases which are not considered hopeless. Both in America and in the United Kingdom everything possible is'being done to get the very best front these unfortunate people.” In England there were schools for mental defectives, where they remained until the age of 16. If there was then no chance' for them they were handed over to the mental authorities, but if they showed any aptitude they were permitted to pursue the trades for which they were» best suited.

Dr. Philpott visited the Manor at Epsom, where 1000 mental defectives are working. Every year they turned out thousands of pounds’ worth of work, but the sale of it was not encouraged by the Government. In the visitor’s opinion, the Government must get over this sort of thing. The svstem of classifying defectives .in England was proving very effective. Their teachers found out what they liked best in the way of handicrafts, and encouraged them to pursue their fancies. Under the discipline of school life many improved wonderfully, while on others it had no effect.

Dr. Philpott is convinced that Australia is well advanced in the management of its mental defectives. He will make a report as the result of his tour, but he does not think there will be any drastic changes made as the result of it.