12

E.—4

T]u\ appear again and again, and continually increase the burden of the country by producing degenerate and deficient offspring. It is estimated that, in England and Wales, six hundred feebleminded single women give birth to children in workhouses every year. Again, at the Wa,verlsy School for the Feeble-minded, in Massachusetts, particulars are given regarding 150 feeble-minded girls from the Lancaster Industrial School. Forty-five of these cases were sent to Waverley for permanent care, while the others either remained in the industrial school or were tried at large on parole. It was found that the girls sent to Waverley lived contentedly, and, under direction, did work of distinct economic value. Of the others, the large majority went I" the bad, and became prostitutes, criminals, drunkards, and became prolific breeders, thus becoming a source of danger to society. Probably some people will say that too much money is already being spent on the education of feeble-minded children; but 1 may point out that it is entirely false econonmy to delay providing lor the segregation of feeble-minded girls, inasmuch as delay means a continuous increase in tile numbers, as has already been pointed out. No one who looks the question of race-betterment squarely in the lace can for one moment condemn the expenditure necessary to equip an institution for (he accommodation of feeble-minded girls. 'Ihe climate of Otekaike is an ideal one, the grounds are iiiosi suitable, and the cost of administration would be considerably reduced by extending our work bo as to provide for the training of feeble-minded girls also. The Following extracts from letters I have received from the parents of mentally defective girls show that the provision of a girls' institution is needed: — " sth July, 1909. —Permit me to ask whether any progress is being made regarding the girls school. We are very anxious on account of my poor girl, who, 1 am sure, if properly trained could l>e made very useful if we are fortunate enough to get skilled training for her before it is 100 late. Any information you can give will be thankfully received." " 23rd March, 1910, —Referring to our young girl, may I ask whether there is any hope of your having an addition to your school, for girls, at Otekaike." " 16th February, 1910.—1 have been advised to write and ask you if there is any home for weak-minded girls. I took my sister to a doctor lately, and asked him what he thought about her. He said that she is not an imbecile, and that the best thing I could do for her would be to get her put through a system of training, and by doing so would .strengthen her mental organs. 1 do not know of any Home that 1 could get her into, so I would be greatly obliged if you could advise me in any way." That provision should be made for the reception of all feeble-minded children where parents are not wealthy enough to provide the special training, or where they have insufficient time to devote to such children, may be urged— (1.) For the child's sake. (a.) On account of the difficulty of obtaining sufficient exercise in the fresh air. (b.) The impossibility of obtaining home training, so as to divert their energies from mischievous habits. (c.) The impossibility of securing adequate protection from unkindness and injury There are cases on record of poor people with feeble-minded child leu who have tied their children up in a room or left them locked up indoors all day without a tire while they (the parents) have been out to work. In other cases they have been turned out of doors all day long, to run about without any supervision at all. 2. For the sake of the parents and friends. (a.) Because of the constant worry and anxiety inseparable from the care of a feeble-minded child under the ordinary conditions of home life, and the difficulty, under such conditions, of keeping the child from harm. (b.) Because of the interference with the training of the other children belonging to the family. Notification op Mentally Defective Persons. In connection with the Education Act, 1908, which provides for the compulsory education of afflicted children, I would suggest that some method of compulsory notification of mentally defective children should be adopted. By this means the probable number of cases, of both sexes, which we are likely to have to deal with could be ascertained, which would enable us to make our plans for the future. Further Accommodation for Boys. In addition to the thirty-one boys I have in residence at the school, there are over a hundred more cases under consideration. To accommodate anything like this number of additional cases it will lie necessary to extend our building operations by the provision of additional cottages. This number of cases has been found without any special advertising of the school, and points to the necessity for obtaining an accurate estimate of the number needing special care, in order that we may know the scope of the work which lies before us. Permanent Care and Control op the Feeble-minded. It is now generally conceded that mental deficiency is not a mere accident or freak, but that it is the result of certain definite antecedent conditions, and is largely inherited. It is also found that the feeble-minded problem is no isolated one, but is in fact intimately connected with insanity, epilepsy, alcoholism, consumption, and other conditions which give rise to mental and physical weakness. The question of the care of the feeble-minded, then, must be considered alongside of the important one of national degeneracy. In England, according to statistics, the average number