Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-03-18

! youth ana OF tedCnlNS tHcul SOIIlS
simple occupation is pointed out.
! The State institutions are found to
| be assets and in some Of these ex-
tensions are recommended. Espec-
tally emphasized is the importance Of
studying in these institutions the in-
dividual inmate and his needs.
Tabulations are given of the class
ifications by groups. medical. sociol-
| logic. etc. of the 162 cases studied in
tensively in the course of the survey.
Some Of these cases. most Of which
we're in an institution or were brought
to the Office Of the commission for an
opinion had perplexed their guardi-
ans by their behavior or had been
court cases. The intelligence Of most
of these was found to be but little
below normal, but character was often
at fault.
| Names losses by emigration OF
some of the most ambitious and ag-
gressive elements Of the population in
the 3O's, 4O's, SOS and COS are cited
as having left Il lest virile stock, the
supervision and guidance of some
representatives of which presents a
| DEODIeIH lOT SOCIOlOSiC otuoShlo VI eAAA'
generation especially.
| Case records and abstracts of cases
studied are given and the methods
are outlined of testing intelligence
and of estimating character devia-
tions and their influence on behavior.
A chart of three degenerate commun-
tiles, their consanguineouS marriages
and mental classihcations. containing
$50 symbols representing personali-
ties, their lines of descent, matrimo-
NAL relationships and mental ratings
is Reproduced.
! The recommendations of the COM
mission are as follows:
First-Education of the public on
| the problem Of feeble mindedness and
| the means Of solution. namely. Maine
| citizens should know the members of
| the class and especially Of the mimi
cal, high grade feeble minded. many
of whom are potential offenders and
| prostitutes. They should know the
cost of supporting these in idleness
and vice on the one hand and OF
training them in youth to economic
usefulness on the other. Maine peo-
pie should know the importance OF
| detecting those of degenerate stocks
whose progeny is most sure to be de-
| pendent in order to plan for the elm
| ination of these in the future. Maine
people should be convinced that fee
| ble- -mindedness in the community is
a burden which may be humanely
diminished by acting on well formu-
lated plan.
Second-The extension Of the men-
tai clinic idea. now happily inaugural
ed in Maine to the establishment OF
clinics in the other cities at which
guardians judges and court officers.
institution heads. physicians. ea>h-
ers and others may ascertain the
mental status of those whose be-
havior suggests investigation.
Third-Provision Of a suitable COM
! mitment law, placing the control OF
all feeble minded in the hands Of the
States experts. so that those of both
the intra and extra institutional types
may be appropriately treated.
Fourth-Extension of the State
School for Feeble-minded and the
w Ol1ldu w N"ANS ~
three times their present capacity. IN
the attempt to relieve the communi-
| ties of the Unconstitutional feeble
minded and inimical female offenders.
Fifth-Provision for the freest use
| BY the courts Of the findings Of the
States ailenists.
Sixth-Provision for the more in
tensive teaching Of psychiatry in the
States medical schools Of the avail
able means of securing a diagnosis Of
suspected cases of mental defect in
children.
Seventh-Extension Of medical in
spection in the public schools to the
early discovery of cases of mental
defect, deviation and disease.
Eighth-Examinatio and classifi-
cation Of all inmates of penal and re-
| formatory institutions.
Ninth-Provision for the inaugura-
| ton Of a continuing census OF the
| States feeble-minded.
| TenthAA continuing voluntary as
sociation Of competent citizens to or
| ganize research, to educate public
opinion and to formulate measures
for legislative enactment.
Eleventh-State recognition OF the
| psychiatrical resources Of the State
: and the organization thereof for the
examination, registration and SUPER
vision Of the States feeble minded.
The value Of individual character
study is cited and illustrated in the
i case reports as a necessary aid to the
! testing of intelligence and a step IN
advance toward correct personality
, evaluation.
The report is evidently an attempt
to show actual conditions for the pur-
! pose of informing public opinion and
| stimulating study to open the way TO
| iudicious action for the advancement
| of social welfare in the State.
| p,,l,1ic Utilities