THE FEEBLE-MINDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 6

THE FEEBLE-MINDED

AMERICAN METHOD OF TREATMENT.

TASMANIAN PROFESSOR’S INVEST! OATIONS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, January 28.

The care and treatment of the feebleminded in the United States is a subject to be investigated by Dr E. Morris Miller, professor of psychology in the University of Tasmania, who arrived in Auckland yesterday, and is about to proceed to San Francisco. The object of his intended investigations is to assist him in framing regulations and in setting up administrative machinery under the Mental Deficiency Act passed last session by the Tasmanian Parliament. He will inquire into the administration and methods of the institutions and colonies for the care and treatment of the feeble-minded, as well as the special schools and classes under the American Department of _ Education. The Tasmanian Act (said Dr Miller) was mainly framed by himself. It was chiefly based upon the British Act of 1913, but several advances were made, the most important being the provisions relating to the State psychological clinic for purposes of diagnosis. The New Zealand Act was drawn upon in some respects, especially the part concerning the adminis tration of the estates of defectives. The guiding idea of the Act was that every defective child capable of any training at all should be trained as far as his mental endowment would permit, and in conformity with his special abilities and special disabilities. With reference to the New Zealand Act, Dr Miller said it was unfortunate that the term mental deficiency was used in the dominion to cover cases of unsoundness of mind (lunacy),' and mental disorders as well as amentia the arrestment of mental development. Scientific opinion to day was against bringing lunacy and feeblemindedness under one generic term. Apart from that, the New Zealand Act was a. most useful measure, and he hoped it would soon be extended to cover the new provisions set forth in the Tasmanian Act. The University of New Zealand could, with ad vantage, be linked up with the administration of the Mental Deficiency Act on the psychological and pedagogical side, as well as on the nem-o-pathological and the psycho pathological side. That was bbing done in other countries. The Sydney University and the Teachers’ College were preparing for a similar extension of their functions in anticipation of Parliament nassing a measure in the near future. Indeed, the tendency today (concluded Dr Miller) was to separate psychology from philosophy, and make it an independent department of the university. Where this was not_ possible it was desirable that the distinction should be recognised in the teaching of the subieot in the university. Sydney had already clone it, and Hobart would follow suit. Before long the practice would be general in the commonwealth.