The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-11-20
Feeble minded
M ~. ARLINGTON BRYCE
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
atty" Psychology and
rarenthocd." etc.

Feeble mindcdness Is not entirely
problem OF hcredity. as many PEG.
PIE take FOR granted often II IS
rather a problem of environment
That is 90 SAY n is now believed
Pay certain experts that numerous
inmates OF institutions for the
feeble minded would have developed
into useful members OF society had
hey not been neglected in early
childhood hpt taken IN hand and
giytn Intensive mental training
And. further, IL Is held that many
children thoucht 90 be feeble mind
cd are naturally bright enough men
f7'ly 6ut have had their mental DE-.
VelqpmNnt blocked by some one 0f
seyeral removable causes
Ascertain just what cause d. az
work 10 account for the mental duh
ness. remove that cause. provide
corrective treatment. and the seem.
.ngly fecblc-minded child may prove
Wei able 70 hold hts own in the
world
or ae stated BY one who has bad
wide experience in this aeld. Frof
faehtngr Winner OF the University
ot Pennsylvania
70 hsNrEe that child may be
secbIe minded TO one environment
,or example in his own home and
mass cease io exhibit f,ehi.-mindpd
me- when placed In a different en-
uroumcnt
Aiso sgree with those modern
students of insanity who assert that
N q. n .res al
insanity NAV be averted hy q prom
IN course sc discipline and training
AnAiogously. contend that be.
catse child of IS or 20 presents a
hopeless ease % feeble mindedness.
tris rs no evidence that proper
treatment a. an earlier age might
NOT have determined an entirely dN
ferent course % development"
As a matter OF fact at various
phychoog al clinics during the past
few wears number az children who
ia cartier times would have drified
.lfn feeble miudedness. have been
redeemed 20 useful happy lives.
some src children who have been
ublfcted 20 cruel minddeadening
neglect reared n filth and squalor.
permitted scarcely one ray ot men
TAI sunHcht Ia their sombre lives.
other children have suffered men
tafiv because og physical under.
nonrt hment The blood supply 20
thcr brain has been TOO poor go
enable tbe brain 20 function nor.
maliy
Tho aullnoss % others has been
traced ro extreme eve strain. or ado
mold -ruwths. or so dental troubles.
eff unireated only little long
or. II might have been impossible
ever 90 bring these unfortunate chi
dren uo go normal mentality.
Whrh means. ~ course. hat
there Ia reason 10 believe mat
among those who do fail 20 respond
.n any corrective treatment the fail
ure may often be due. not 20 inoorn
brain weakness. but 20 the fart that
thew were not subjected 20 develop
mental treatment soon enough
have already advocated estab.
fishing system ~ compulsory med.
.csI examinations o. all children az
periodical intervals during the hrst
years OF life
su~h system would 10. more
than help 20 safeguard the bodily
health az growing children The
examining physician would be In "a
position 20 detect, az the earliest
age possible. any signs OF subnor.
NAL mentality.
Testing In a psychological clinic
could a. once follow with the re
cult. I am confident. 'hat many q
potential case OK feeble mindednefs
wouid be aFertec,
The burden ~ feeble mlndedness
h heavy today 10 is said 20 b.
constantly growing heavier Here
is a plan offered AZ feasible
means ~ lessening II appreciably