Annual report of the Board of Control : 12th, 1925.

Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report of the Board of Control : 12th, 1925. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    77/482 (page 67)
    (3) Cases suitable for this treatment would have to be selected with a view to each individual’s limitations, temperament and needs, which would not be altered by sterilization, and the conditions outside the institution to which the defective would return would also have to be taken into account. (4) Proper safeguards would have to be provided and the consent of the parent or guardian would be necessary. We have arrived at no definite conclusions in regard to this subject, but we may state that we do not consider that sterilization would materially diminish the immediate need for increased institutional accommodation, or for better provision for the care and supervision of defectives outside institutions. Whether sterilized or not, a large proportion of defectives will continue to need institutional care on account of their inherent incapacity to look after themselves or their affairs; and, for the same reason, care and supervision will always be necessary for those living in the community. We are compelled once more to indicate the dependence of Local Authorities on the full and complete working of Part V of the Education Act. The duty of ascertainment and education of all defectives between the ages of 7 and 16 is imposed on the Local Education Authorities, and unless they fully carry out this duty and place defectives in special schools, where they can receive continuous and skilled observation, many defectives who are unfit to become parents will not be notified to the Local Authority and thus rendered subject to be dealt with under the Mental Deficiency Act. Further, unless the Local Authority can continue without a break the protection and training of the Special School, the time and public money spent on the child before sixteen will be largely wasted. We regard the work of the Local Education Authorities as the basis of any future provision, and the founda¬ tion of preventive work for defectives. Unless it is complete throughout the country, many defectives will not be dealt with by the Local Authorities until after they have reached the procreative age, and then only if they can be proved to be neglected, abandoned, cruelly treated or to have committed a crime. 3. Ascertainment. Section 30 (a).—The improvement noticed last year in the activities of Local Authorities has been maintained. At the close of 1923 the number of defectives ascertained was 36,413, or 0*96 per thousand of the population. Last year (1924) the numbers were 48,778, or 1-29 per thousand. This year (1925) the returns show 55,480 or 1-46 per thousand, an increase during this year of 6,702. The less rapid rate of increase this year is accounted for by the fact that in 1924 a large number of