The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-01
SMITH REPORTS
WITH COMMITTEE
UPON DETECTIVES

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec 1.-The
committee appointed by Governor
Samuel L. Ralston to study the prob.
lem Of mental effectiveness In Indiana
which annually costs the state one
and one-third million dollars, today
submitted its findings and recon-
mendations On the basis Of this re-
port, the legislature is expected to re-
wise the laws relating to detectives.
The conclusions and recommends
tons of the committee, which have
heretofore been outlined by the Inter-
national News Service, are based on
an exhaustive study by the commit
tee. not only OF conditions in Indiana
but also OF the work being done in
other states.
Immediate additional institutional
accommodations for one thousand in
sane patients now in need of hospital
care is recommended by the commit
tee, which points out that one per
cent. at least, of the general popula-
tion Of the state is either epileptic,
insane or feeble-minded.
Recommend New Law
A law making voluntary admission
to the insane hospitals is recommend
ed The committee believes that such
a law would be great benefit to per-
sons who know they have incipient
cases Of insanity and who would glad
il take the treatment afforded to re-
lieve them il 1t were not for the
stigma attached to the legal examine
ton and formal judgment of insanity
by commission appointed by laws
Classified. the recommendations Of
the committee are:
Enlargement OF the Village for
Epileptics at New Castle to 1900 ca
pacity, and provision for larger medi
cal facilities and for the care of
women.
additional facilities for 1000 in
sane patients, and for the classified
ton OF patients in all institutions for
medical treatment. The establish
ment of psychiatric department in
all institutions for the intensive treat
ment OF the acute insane.
S-Establishment Of a department
at the Robert w. Long hospital In
dianapolis. for the treatment Of in
cipient mental cases and detention
wards at all other hospitals.
4-Development OF means for occu-
pational therapy for patients.
Law providing for voluntary ad-
mission to state hospitals for insane.
Would Enlarge School.
enhancement OF School for
Feeble Minded Youth, Fl. Wayne, by
a colony in southern part of state, on
not less than 1000 acres of land.
Additional law providing for COM
mitment of patients to School for
Feeble Minded Youth, the same as to
Village of Epileptics.
S-Mental as well as physical ex-
animation Of school children and
wherever possible. separate schools or
separate rooms should be established
9--Enactment of law providing for
commission, with sufficient funds, to
study entire question of mental defec-
tives in this state.
In making it's study, the committee
secured the services Of three eugenic
field workers. These three investiga-
tors studied two counties in Indiana
and made exhaustive reports on them,
which served as basis for the com
mittee's estimates Of the general con-
ditions in the states.
Figures Run Very Close.
The committee found that the ratio
OF 1.S epileptics per 1000 population in
"A" county was so close to that Of
19 in "B" county that 1t appeared
probable that the figure Of 1855 epilep.
tics in every 1000 people indicates the
true amount of epilepsy in Indiana.
The insane from "a" county num-
bered IS, or to 263 Of the popula-
ton. In "B" county the ratio of in
sane was much less, being 1 to every
4OS Of it's population. Assuming that
the ratio of "A" county is a correct
indication Of general conditions. there
are 10000 insane in the state. and as
suming that the ratio Of "B" county
Is correct there are 6,617 insane in
the state.
In "A" county the investigators
found 2S5 feeble-minded persons. or
1919 per 1000 Of the population. In
"B" county they found the ratio to
be 7.6 per 1000 of the population At
tention Is called that many individuals
are classed as detectives by the IN
vestigators that are not recognized by
the general public as detectives. Some
OF these are called "dull' or Stupid
or peculiar" or "crazy" or eccentric"
In tracing the relation of mentral
detectives to pauperism, the committee
took a typical case of marriage be-
tween two feebe-minded persons.
Three OF their children. the investiga-
tors found, already have become public
charges and two others can not be
found.
Few Persons Defective.
In its conclusions. the committee
finds that one per cent. at least, of
the general population is mentally de-
fective. 1t finds that 9.4S4 mental de-
fectives are now on public support. It
finds that SIS per cent of the insane are
in institutions and that there are 1900
epieptics in the state who need insti-
tutional care. 1t finds that but 20 per
cent of the feeble.minded are cared for
In state institutions.
Mental effectiveness, the committee
declares, is large factor in the cause
of crime, delinquency, pauperism. in
efficiency and many other special ills
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