TREATMENT OF DEFECTIVES

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 15

TREATMENT OF DEFECTIVES

MUSICAL DRILL AND DANCING Musical drill, folk dancing, Scouting, and Guiding, a greater variety' in clothing, aiid parol© in suitable cases, ,now form interesting aids in the treatment of patients ip the various mefital institutions in the country (says the London ‘ Daily Telegraph ’). Under the influence of a system of determining occupation primarily by therapeutic considerations large numbers 6f mentally afflicted people arc being roused from their lethargy, and, in many instances, restored to normality. The Board of Control feels that occupation therapy has abundantly justified its adoption. In its 1933 report, issued to-day, it states that a new development, which it has watched with interest and done its bett to encourage, is the training of patients _ through musical exercises and dancing now adopted in many hospitals. . There is rarely aiiy difficulty, it says, in finding a nurse to play the piano or procuring a gramophone. The results have been uniformly good. “ The drill gives patients a new interest in life; it increases vitality and helps to build up a hew self-respect, and even in some cases lessens the introversion of patients who had been regarded as hopelessly ‘ shut-in,’ ” states the report. At first no special drib costume is needed, but as the classes progress suitable dress for the women is generally found to be helpful. SCOUTING AND GUIDING. Emphasising the great value of Scouting and Guiding in the training of mental defectives, the board express pleasure in the fact that groups of Scouts and Guides, and often Wolf Cubs and Brownies, Rovers, and Rangers have bcCn established in. a steadily increasing number of colonies end other certified institutions. .This helps to vary the monotony of institutional life, increase self-confidence and self-respect, and fosters the sense of independence which is so sadly lack* ing in most defectives. Folk-dancing is referred tp in this connection as a most useful feature. “ Defectives often have a marked sense of rhythm, and it is encouraging to find how the most unpromising material will iipprove with the stimulus of careful training and judicious competitiofi,” states the report, which observes that the pride of patients in such competition is pathetic to see, “ and we are convinced that such successes will do much to remove the sense of inferiority from which many defectives suffer."

The need of giving patients,.particularly women, greater variety in clothing and patterns approximating to those worn by normal people is also urged.