Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-11
DR.. e. STANLEY ABBOTT
On Mental Hvolene


MENTAL hygiene is playing larger part
lVl in the work of the world than most
people imagine, according to DIR. T.. Stanley
Abbott, medical director Of the Mental
Hygiene Committee of the Public Charities
Association Of Pennsylvania. While the
work is still young as a branch of an exact
medical science, much has already been
accomplished and the possibilities are prac-
ticaly unlimited. he says.
1.-THE general work of mental hygiene"
DIR. Abbott points out lays especial en-
phasis upon the principles of the prevention
Of mental diseases which may occur later in
life and the prevention of mental defects In
children becoming permanent ones. Then,
too, there is the prevention of the conse-
quences of mental defects.
by this last mean that there are a
good many mental detectives who may be so
trained as to become orderly citizens, with
the result that there Is no need for their
segregation. Such cases, If properly trained,
are not menace to the community. Their
training, therefore, prevents them from suf-
fering the consequences of their inheritance
of mental Effectiveness.
Cannot Prevent Feeble. mindedness
1--WE cannot prevent feeble mindedness,
because the feeble minded are born in this
unfortunate condition, and, of course, after
the birth we have to cope with given
condition which we are powerless to change
entirely, but with which much may be done
What can be done Is to put the feeble
minded child In special classes at the schools
or give him training at an institution for the
feeble minded.
''By this training many can be prevented
from becoming delinquents and thus making
themselves scourge upon society at large,
filling our courts and jails constantly and
living the lives Of criminals.
Roughly, one quarter Of the inmates of
our prisons are feeble minded persons. This
is an astonishingly large percentage. but
the facts have been clearly demonstrate d..
There is no doubt that quite large proper
tion of this number could have been saved
from such career had they been brought
up in q proper environment and received the
right kind of training as children. Thus,
for the want of the right kind Of instruction
a large number of persons are ncedessy
made a menace to the community.
philadelphia, which has always had n
medical eminence second to that of scarcely
any city in the world, is we'll to the front
In the matter of the study and the treatment
of such cases of mental effectiveness. In
this city there are now about 175 classes for
children. We need more, but still that Is
II very good start.
Some Vital Needs
'Some of the greatest needs in this oues-
tion, which Is one of vital Importance to
a due regard for the maintenance Of its vel
fare as we'll as Of it's laws, are first of all
larger number of school physicians and
psychological examiners. The cases which
are constantly brought to light require more
time and more careful study than the small
number Of experts employed are able to
give them.
Another very important matter is the
necessity for giving advice to the less fortu
nately situated in life as to their own mental
condition, and third is the establishment
OF mental clinics. A year or two ago the
Pennsylvania Hospital, which has had n
mental clinic for years, developed it greatly
and II Is now one Of the best In the country
"Dr Ftirbush has also established n men
tai clinic at Blockley. which will in time
develop into splendid institution. An.
other is the Pennington Clinic, under DR..
I.udlum. This is financed by graduates Of
Pennington and 1t has originated some new
features, one of which is the visiting of the
persons under charge at their homes
1.-THE necessity for treatment is detected
In n number Of ways. School teachers mov
recognize deficiency In q child or the school
physician may detect it in his examinations
Again the parents themselves NAV rcaIizc
II. or 1t may bc observed by n social worknr
in visit to the home of the child, or II
may come through one of the social welfare
agencies.
After the ease has been 'locatcd' tho
child Is taken 10 mental clinic. where rho
troubl" is classified and tho cause learned
II possible. 1t may bs due to illness OF any