CARE OF FEEBLE-MINDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18567, 27 November 1923, Page 5

CARE OF FEEBLE-MINDED.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.

TESTS' AND ' TREATMENT.

The question of feeble-mindedness pave rise to a very interesting discussion at the Medical Congress in Melbourne last week. The subject was introduced' by Dr. R. J. Berry, of Melbourne, with an account of important researches carried out by him in connection with the development of different parts of ffle brain, and with the means of ascertaining during life the arrest of development of the higher senses. . - ", . Man, 'compared with lower animals, was . endowed wilh a much more complicated mechanism, and with a secondary association zone, by means, of which memory, reason, judgment, speech, and so on, could be carried on. In the lower species only the instinctive activities were represented governing the functions of hunger and' of sex. The normal infant when born had, so to speak, the mind of an idiot, although the layer which was destined to control the higher intellectual functions had already been laid down. If this development were • arrested the degree of feeble-rnindodr.ess would correspond with the extinction of that layer. He was not satisfied with the information obtained bv the ordinary intelb ence I tests, but wished to supplement su<,a in- | formation by a determination of the size I of the brain or the capacity of the skull. A plea was raised by Dr. R. A. Noble, of Sydney, for more complete information regarding the detection of feeble-minded-ness and its prevention. There should be ■ treatment in connection with the outpatients' departments of hospitals, and he recommended the introduction of social service activities, such as those used in America. He also advocated careful segregation. . _ n V An account was given by I rofessor Sir John MacPherson, of Sydney, of the result that had attended the operation of the Mental Defective Acts of Great Britain, which came into force in 191 <5._ In Scotland, the county, and not the State, was the unit of authority, arid the country was subdivided into parishes. The police constable acted in loco parentis to each individual who was unable to lak* care of himself. There was. a board of control which had no executive authority. The responsible authority was, firstly, ih» parent or guardian; and, secondly, the local education department. Both $ were compelled to disclose the existence of feeble-mindeness in children, within the scope of their responsibilities. . Una" this system no feeble - minded child ■ escaped. '; '. -■;■, <