[Report 1931] / Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council.

  • Hertfordshire (England). County Council. n 50062101.
Date:
1931
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1931] / Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/78 (page 22)
    MENTAL DEFICIENCY. The number of cases reported to the County Medical Officer during the year for examination as to their mental condition was 166, compared with in for the previous year. Of this number 124 were found to be mentally defective, four were epileptic, two were of unsound mind, two were epileptic and feeble-minded, one was an epileptic imbecile and the remainder either dull and backward or suffering from some form of physical defect associated with backwardness. Of the 166 cases reported upon, 83 were males and 83 were females, while 57 were above the age of 21, and 109 were below that age ; of these cases 137 were from urban districts, and 29 were from rural districts. The classification of the 124 cases found to be mentally defective within the meaning of the Act was as follows : Feeble-minded, 87 ; imbeciles, 32 ; idiots, 5. Of the total number examined, 8 were classified as physically defective, 22 as dull and backward, three doubtful, two as of unsound mind, two epileptic and feeble-minded, one epileptic imbecile, four epileptic. During the year 22 cases were sent to certified institutions or were placed under guardianship, as against 18 in 1930. Of the 22 cases, 14 were feeble-minded, and 6 were imbeciles, one a moral imbecile and one an idiot. Eight cases were sent to special residential institutions and 14 were placed under guardianship. With five exceptions, all the cases were over 16 years of age, the oldest being 56, and the youngest 4 years. At the end of the year there were 259 mental defectives in certified institutions or places of safety. At the present time there are about 108 defectives on the waiting list for admission to certified institutions, in addition to many others who would be sent to certified institutions if accommodation were available. During the year 31 children were admitted to Kingsmead School, and of these 23 were County children and 8 out-county children. The number of children discharged during the year was 41, of which 26 were County cases. At the end of the year there were in residence in the school 109 children under the age of 16 and 10 feeble-minded girls over 16, making a total of 119 in residence. During the year building operations have commenced at Cell Barnes, and it is expected that the Colony will be open for the admission of the first group of defectives in October of the