The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-28
CURE FB|
fEEB[EM|NOEDAts
DIR. PETERS, EXPERT on AILMEN1s
WOULD END pRoCREA-
--'~--- TON.
SEES 1T ONLY REMEDY
URGES THAT VIRGINIA LEGISLAs
TURE MAKE APPROPRIATION
TO MAKE INQUIRY -
IN STATE.

DR. Amos w. Peters, head OF mo
laboratory department of the Vine
land. n J.. training school for the
feebleminded, delivered a clinchin9
argument for the care and training OF
the feebleminded of Virginia last
night when he addressed a crowded
auditorium in the chamber of COM
merce building
DIR. Peters spoke under the auspices
of the Richmond Academy of Medi-
cine, but the audience was composed
of members of all professions. A
number of members of the general az
sembly and q number of ladies were
also present.
DR.. Peters took the subject Of feo-
blemindedness from the start, show.
ing tina. although comparatively lit
tie Is known, nearly all OF what in
known has been gained In very res
cent years by research and observa-
ton The one indisputable fact in re-
gard to feeblemindedness, he showed
TO be heredity, and the one cure for
feeblemindedness was to put stop to
procreation among the feebleminded.
although we think of feeble-
minded persons as feeble only so far
as thought goes" said DR.. Peters. we
have found that almost invariably the
feebleminded person is not In good
physical health. and IN many cases
we find that either the physical oon-
dition, is responsible for the mental
condition. This has led to further
study. and work is now going on to
help the very young child physically
so that 1t may grow mentally. In the
case of older persons We have
found that nothing we have done will
help their mental growth and devel-
opment."
Prevent Procreaton.
In speaking of prevention OF fee-
"Reminiscences DIR. Peters strongly adj
vocated sterilization. Methods OF
sterilization have been perfected
which have no effect on the physical
health of the subject. and which will
absolutely prevent procreation. DR..
Peters admitted that there was strong
disapproval of such a course among
people who had not studied the mat
ter thoroughly, but among authorities
on the subject it was looked on ~
the only possible way to keep feeblo-
minded persons out of the world.
In regard to the care of the feeble.
minded. DR.. Peters showed that at th0
Nineiand institution, where the care
of the feebleminded has attracted ma
tional attention, the subjects were
taught to work with their hands and
thus not only gain ability to make
their own livings, but something with
which to occupy their minds
The methods used at Vineland have
met with the most encouraging sue
cess and feebleminded persons who.
under ordinary circumstances, would
become inmates Of almshouses or asy-
lums. have been made into useful hu-
mans in surroundings, which provide
for their health and comfort.
In Right Direction.
The greater portion Of DR.. Peter9
address was technical, and had to do
with the defects of the minds and
bodies of feebleminded persons shows
ing the relation between their mem
tai and physical condition, and what
efforts and experiments had been
made with the glands OF the body TO
increase mental growth and develop
ment. He showed that the work OF
experimentation was proceeding, al
though necessarily slowly. and results
were being obtained which showed
that the work was proceeding In the
right direction.
Above all, DIR. Peters warned those
present that before any real progress
could be made for the feehlemindeo
there must be segregation to prevent
their reproduction, and investigation
to discover who was feebleminded.
DIR. Peters was strongly in favor Of
the bill before the general assembly
which provides for an appropriations
to pay for an investigation into the
conditions in Virginia