Evening star., 1954-11-01
5000 Doctors
Hear Experts
On Delinquency
Medical Societies
Of D. c., Virginia
Hold Joint Sessions
By John MeKeIwoy

Juvenile delinquency de-
scribed as a meaningless term
in the first PLACES a deep, con-
fusing subject requiring exhaus-
tive research for some under
standing of it's makeup.
Indicating they don't have all
the answers, experts in the field
discussed the subject today at
the First Interstate Scientific
Assembly, a joint meeting of the
District and Virginia Medical
Societies. More than 5000 ply
sicians are attending the con-
vention at the Shoreham Hotel
which continues through
Wednesday.
1t Is particularly difficult, ac-
ording to DR.. Fritz Redl of the
National Institute of Mental
Health. to determine in the
adolescnt what is a normal
antic of that period and what is
a manifestation Of a neurotic
delinquency. In short, is it
adolescence that makes the
child do this or that, or is the
child mentally i'll?
Treatment In ''Mid-Air."
He added that psychiatric
treatment of the disturbed child
is often done in "mid-air." For,
as he explained. the child fresh
from treatment in the psy-
chiatrist's Office and on the road
to better life often finds his
control melt like a chocolate
bar. when intoxicated with the
excitement of a group bent on
vandalism. And vandalism, the
doctor said, makes no sense.
DR.. Frank j. Curran, of the
Child Guidance Clinic in Char
lottesville, Va, said more and
more children are becoming
delinquent" between the ages of
six to III.
He asked for a change in the
community attitude toward a
child in trouble and his parents.
He said the community. often
cries arrest the parents" of the
delinquent and is satisfied that
is the answer to juvenile delin-
quency. The doctor emphasized
there should be "no hard and
fast rule" in the treatment of
the delinquent child.
React in Strange Ways.
Some insight into what makes
the child go off the deep end
was supplied by DR.. Curran Fear
of school, teachers, report cards
and bullies cause the child to
react in strange ways.
DR.. j. Franklin Robinson, di-
rector of the Child Guidance
Clinic in Wilkes-Barre, Pa, said
delinquency might have its roots
even in the ages of from birth
to 5 years. He said a child of
that age is faced with numerous
changes and resists, normally,
these changes in many ways.
A child who answers mo" to
every command has selected this
method of resistance. Actually
the child is just feeling his oats
as an individual and his con-
duct should be recognized as
such. The danger, the doctor
said, lies in allowing these pat
terms Of resistance to grow too
fixed and permanent.
First Talks in 125 Years.
The meeting marks the first
joint meeting of the two societies
in more than 125 years.
The meeting is being con-
Quoted by DR.. Preston A. Nc
Lendon, president of the District
Medical Society, and DR.. Vim
cent w. Archer, president Of the
Virginia Medical Society. DR..
Ralph M. Caulk Of Washington
and DR.. James w. Love of Vir-
ginia are acting as co-chairmen
of the program.
Wednesday, doctors will hear
a discussion of a ticklish prob
lem: what to tell a cancer pa
tient. Participants in a forum
on the subject include DR.. c r.
Klopp. DR.. Alec Horwitz. The
Rev. Edmund j. Lee, The Rev.
Francis B. Sayre, jr., DR.. Arthur
M. Sutherland. DR.. Owen H.
Wangensteen and H. Mason
Welch, local attorney.
In attendance will be DR.. Wal
ter B. Martin, president of the
American Medical Association
Banquet Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, the two societies
will stagesa banquet marked by
a skit spoofing the world Of med
icine by members of the profess
sion. The banquet also will mark
the first appearance of the DOC
tors Orchestra"
Wednesday night, another din
ner will be held for the staff of
doctors Offices. Leo E. Brown,
director Of public relations of
the ANA, will speak.
Persons who are unable to
contact their physician immedi-
ately during convention days,
should call RE. 7-6100, the Med
ical Bureau, which will handle
calls for doctors at the assembly.
Meeting in conjunction will be
the Women's Auxiliaries Of the
tw0 SOcietieS. Registration will