Evening journal., 1916-12-16
EXPERTS REVIEW
OF DETECTIVES
IS MADE public
OF 212 Cas- S Examined i3S
Have Been Diagnosed
as Feeble Minded
MANY CHILDREN ARE
BACKWARD IN studies

The U. 5. Department of Labor.
Chldron's Bureau, today made pubic
n summary Of its report on mental de-
fectives IN New Castle county. Della
ware The report covered 2l2 positive
cases and comes at a time when a pro-
nounced movement Is on foot 10 have
the next Delaware Legislature appr0-
pirate sufficient money to care for
these dependents at home instead OF
in out Of the State institutions.
The government report follows:
The only provision made by Della
ware for the care and training of the
fceble-m.nded is a State fund Tor the
maintenance OF fourteen Delaware
children in the Pennsylvania Training
School for Predetermined Children at
Elwyn, Pennsylvania
Public provision for the care and
protection OF mental defect yes Is urg-
emily needed for two classes:
First, those who are deprived Of
normal home life. or whose families
cannot gve them the necessary care
and protection.
Second. those who are delinquent,
degenerate or uncomfortable and con-
stitute a menace 70 tho home. school
and community.
The Children's Bureau Study.
"The Federal Ch ldren's Bureau, az
the request OF the Delaware Co-opera-
tive Educational Association, made n
1916 a study OF the social condition Of
feeble-minded persons In New Castle
county. Two hundred and twelve po7-
tive cases OF mental defect were in
vestigaied. of whom 1873 had been d.
agnosed as feeble-minded by a surgeon
OF .he Public Health Service or o'hel
physician competent 10 determine
mentality. and "a we're OF so low q
grade that mental examination wal
not required
"One hundred and sixty-three, or q
per cent. OF the total number lnvcsti
gated. come under one or both OF Ia
class lcatinns above. that Is. the
cannot receive necessary care IN thei
own homes, or they are a menace Il
others. As these 2i2 cases do no
include all OF the persons In New
Castle county VINO are mentally &c
fectiyei the 1863 problem cases con
sttute the minimum of those defect
problematic members OF society.
"Prelim nary ve-tlgation has bee
made in the other two counties OF u
state which indicates that a larg,
number Of children are strik ngl,
backward in their school work Upo~
mental examination many of these arr
found to be feeble m uded The Chile.
ren's Bureau is now securing inform.
1tion In REGARD 60 the conditions IN.
der which they are livinv and the nees
of puhlic provision for their care an
ira ming
HOmo Conditions.
"Of the 212 positively defective per
sons found in New Castle county onl,
81. or 17.5 per cent. are living in
homes where income may be consid-
cred adequate. where moral condi-
tions are good. and where the defec-
tive is receiving adequate care and
protection
Twelve. or sc per cent, OF the
New Castle county detectives investi-
gated are at the Pennsylvania State
Training School. These are receiv.
ing good care and training but they
are not assured OF permanent care
and are likely TO be removed from
Elwyn after a time TO make room FOL
new cases.
"Of the 1863 problem cases. GS are
IN institutions not adapted 70 thei'
needs and 95 are at large in the com.
Continued on o~ge p