The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-03-04
Public Health and the Submerged
Cla Jses.


That more than 10000 men, women
and children out of total population
Of $4,000 are dependents, delinquents
or feeble minded and are unable either
to- work or fight and are a constant
drain on he finances, health and moral
itV Of the state is the startling result
brought out by survey conducted N
Oregon Moreover more than 500 school
children ont Of total enrolled popu
ation of 2,500 were found to be more
or less mentally deficient, a fact which
is of much significance when il is re-
membered that the condition Of the
children Of to-day j. the best possible
index to the condition Of the commit
nitv Of tomorrow and indeed to the
future of the race.
The figures Welded by the Oregon
survey are considerably lower than the
average shown by the draft eXamHa
tion. fact that indicates. in the opiu
ion of the United States publlc health
service officers that they are certainly
not higher than those that would b.
obtained BY similar surveys in other
states, Ii is considered greatly to Ore
CONS credit that il has been one Of the
first states to realize the Importance Of
the problem and to take effective steps
toward a-cprtaining the exact facts
concerning Il.
The survey was authorized by the
Oregon legislature and was carried out
bv the University OF Oregon in collab1'
ration with Dr. G. l.. Carlisle OF the
United States public health service.
"The making Of the survey" said
Surgeon General II. c. Cushing, was
not an easy task, for in Oregon. a. in
many other states. comparatively few
of the types involved are being cared
for in institutions The rest are widely
scattered and were practically. un.
known, for most Of them are quiet and
do not attract attention as do the in
sane and criminal II was therefore nee
essary to build an organization to find
them and report on them.
As there was little money 10 pay
trained workers DR.. Carlisle enlisted
volunteers. largely among the profes
sional classes in every part of the
state. and. through these found the
people. sought and collected data CON
corning their behavior, present history.
school history, social relations twheth
er depedent. delinquent or feeble mind
ed. the cause of their condition and
so on.
"Thc prevention and correction Of
mental effectiveness. went on the sur
geon general. "is one Of the great pub.
lie health problems Of to-day Il enters
into many phases Of our work and it,
influence continually crops out uneN-
pectedly For instance. recent studies
made in connection with the spread of
vcnereal diseases have shown that fee
bic mindcduess Is an important factor
in prostitution. Again. work Of the
United States public health service IN
connect ion with juvenile courts shows
that a marked proportion Of juvenile
delinquency Is traceable to some de-
gree 81 mental deficiency in the often
der.
-For wears public health official. have
concerned tham-eites only with the dis
orders AZ physical health; but now
they are realizing the significance ~
mental health al-o. The work in Oregon
constituted tlat first state wide survey
which even begins o. di@rlo-e the enor-
raou. drain ~ stale caused by mental
defects
-One 81 the objects u the work was
rs obtain for the people ai Oregon IN
idea Of the problem that confronted
them and af tha heavy annual loss
both ccaurue and Industrial that It
ertaffd Auatfer was 90 enable the
legislature "a devise a program shst
world step much Of the boss. RESTORE
health and Bring e. Nyfs af indus
trial u-ffniuf-- muy of trH-e ueu
down and out. ard. sb7tg al t1 -aNe
hundreds II children frem ur0- linz up
a.. H-s.a- al rrl5asrr