Evening journal., 1916-12-16
TWO HANDSOME sTO

"'rhu presence Of 80 mental detectives
at the State Hospital for the Insane
aglravates the seriously crowded condi-
lion Of the hospital which has for some
time been unable TO furnish accOmmo-
dation for the insane recurring care.
"Ihe 20 defective children in insitu-
tiOns for delinque,As exert a bad iniu.
cnce over the normal children IN the
same institution and after short per
iod Of residence they are neces sarily re-
turned 10 the community without suth
cient supervision.
"Ien DETECTIVES are reported from in
solutions for dependents An institution
for dependent children provides for them
only until they reach specified age,
which varies in Delaware institutions
from ] years TO Is years. Children are
sometimes retained beyond tho age
limit because Of serious mental def cl ,
but they cannot be permanently pro
vided for In this wav When the child
il returned 70 the community he re
ceives at best the protection Of a foster
home where he Is supposed TO earn his
! board. The almHhouse, from which six
detectives are reported Including two
girls under q years of age, offers a
shelter which may he permanent FOR
those who wish TO stay. It does no, af.
ford proper care, protection OF training
for detectives As in the home for
the aged from which one woman 2S
years old was reported and In homes
for dependen. children, the presence OF
mental detectives is uninst, and may
be positively harmful, to other inmates
Detectives Not Included In the Study.
These figures-212 cases OF posi-
tive mental defect including 163 prob
lem cases--do not represent the full
burden OF mental defect upon the
community. For example, no cases
OF detectives among the adult delln-
Quents at the workhouse are included
because OF the incompletenss Of the
information available. The ten cases
OF detectives reported among inmates
OF Institutions for dependents are un-
doubtedly FAR below the actual num-
ber The twenty-six cases in insti-
tutions for delinquent children include
tweuty-one defective boys found in
an examination OF all inmates of the
Ferris Industrial School and only fiv,
cases from other institutions. tn,
Children's Bureau made the socia
study and undertook no medical dag
nosis Of detectives. No report wal
available on the mentality of all in
mates OF any institution except th'
state Hospital for the Insane and th'
/, Ferris Industrial School.
"In addition 10 the 212 cases o
positive defect included in this report
361 cases were investigated which hat
been reported to the burau and whicl
appeared 10 be feeble-minded. but 70
which II was impossible to secur
positive diagnosis. or these question
= able cases 9S are delinquent. degen
crate or uncomfortable, and an ad
ditionai 67 are living under detrimen
tai home conditions
Constructive Measures.
The problem OF delnQuents WHIT
, are mentally defective has alread!
! been recognized in Delaware as o
great Importance. The resident ply
j. sician OF the New CastN COUNT
Workhouse Is now making physica
Z and mental examinations OF al
prisoners on admission. Through ;
private fund an expert has been Sc
cured during the past year to holt
a mental clinic in Wilmington one da'
i'm every two weeks for all cases ap
nearing before the Juvenile Cour
such examinations should not be lei
I 10 private initiative and not onl
: should they be required for delin
4 quents, but facilities for adequat
i mental examination should be avail
4 able for all cases OF doubtful men
! tal'ty among dependents and anon
I retarded school children.
? "The problem OF protecting menta
n detectives 's complex. Institutions
v provision is necessary for defective
y who have no means of support o
:. who require a physical care wh'c
they can not receive at home. or VII
=. are a menace 10 the community an
4 cannot he controlled. This shout
2 include custod'al care for low grad
u cases. training. particularly along In
" dustrial lines for those who can ben'
q NJ by IL, and a farm upon which II
n mates may be employed. Training an
u work should be graded according
II age and ability OF inmates. many
"a whom can become partially self-suI
n porting