The feeble-minded, epileptic, deformed and crippled : an interim report containing statistical tables based on an inquiry in regard to the bodily condition and brain development of children in poor-law schools and in certain public elementary, certified industrial and other schools, chiefly in the metropolis.
- Charity Organisation Society (London, England)
- Date:
- 1891
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The feeble-minded, epileptic, deformed and crippled : an interim report containing statistical tables based on an inquiry in regard to the bodily condition and brain development of children in poor-law schools and in certain public elementary, certified industrial and other schools, chiefly in the metropolis. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
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![that there were amongst the 3,931 pupils m 10 public elementary schools 31 ' exceptional' children, or -IS per cent. (' 22 boys in 1,944=1'13 per cent., 9 girls in 1,987=45 ') ; and a further analysis will shortly be prepared, contrasting the condition of these children with that of children in special schools of various kmds. The difficulty of ' feeble-mindedness ' was one that the teachers themselves recognised, and they presented to the investigators for examination 40 children (15 boys and 25 girls) as having mental peculiarities or defects. It should be added that some of H.M. Poor Law Inspectors in the Metropolitan area have recently been considering whether, in connection with the district schools, better arrangements could not be made for the classification and education of ' feeble-minded ' children, and that several members of the London School Board have recognised the great importance of the question. Having then before them this very clear evidence, both of the practical importance of the subject and of the need of further information in regard to it, the Council of the Charity Organisation Society have appointed a Special Committee, consisting of persons who have had special experience of these cases, either from the medical or from the charitable point of view. Upon it are serving, amongst others :— [Here follows a list of members of the Committee.] This Committee propose to arrange that two investigations should take place under the supervision and with the personal assistance of medical men who have made a special study of this subject: one in regard to children in public elementary and other schools, one in regard to inmates of workhouses and other institutions. They will, it is hoped, in making this investigation, receive the support and assistance of the several public authorities concerned in the management of the schools and other institutions. And those who are charged with the work of inquiry will observe most carefully all the conditions which may prevent it proving either troublesome to managers or teachers, or vexatious to the afflicted themselves. In the course of it, information will be obtained in regard to epileptic, crippled, and deformed adults and children. To meet the expenses of the investigation, by way of necessary remuneration to the medical men who conduct it, and necessary payments for compiling the statistical results, &c., a sum of at least £600 will be required. Towards this, on the recommendation of their Scientific Grants Committee, the British Medical Association has, subject to £500 being raised, made a grant of £100, payable to the Committee of that Association, members of which conducted the inquiry above referred to, and are working upon the Special Committee of the Charity Organisation Society ; and otlier donations amounting to £25 are promised. [The sum of £225 has been raised, to which the British Medical Association has made a proportionate grant of £50. Another £40 has been promised by donors. Further contributions for the completion of the investigation and the report are much wanted, they should be sent to C. S. Loch for the Special Committee on the 'Feeble- minded,' &c., 15 Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.] Will those who are interested in this question, and wish to have it dealt with in a thorough manner on such lines as the fullest information may suggest, help the Committee by contributing to the fund ? Donors are requested to make their payments either to Messrs. Coutts & Co., Strand, or Mr. C. S. Loch, Secretary, Charity Organisation Society, 15 Buckingham Street, Adelphi, W.C., ' for the work of the Special Committee on the Feeble-minded,' &c. [Here followed the names of the Committee and other signatories of the letter who are not members, viz.:— The Bishop of London, Lord Egerton of Tatton (Chairman Royal Commission on the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, &c.) ; Mr. J. R. Diggle (Chairman School Board for London); Dr. G. B. Longstaff; Dr. Mouat; Dr. Sliirley Murphy; Miss R. Davenport Hill; Hon. E. Lyulph Stanley ; Mr. G. C. Whiteloy ; Mrs. AshtonDilke; Miss F. Davenport Hill; Miss Joanna M. Hill ; Mr. H. W. Eve ; Miss Twining.] In view of the meeting of the British Medical Association and the Congress on Hygiene and Demography, to be held in London in the month of August, it has been thought well to publish an interim report containing some statistical results of the inquiry in regard to children. No important conclusions are drawn from these tables in this report, but the conclusions and recommendations which the figures suggest will be published at the end of the year, with further evidence given by medical and other witnesses, and particulars in regard to the feeble-minded, epileptics, crippled, and deformed in certain Poor Law infirmaries and workhouses. The major part of the reference to the Special Committee will then be dealt with; certain statistical results only are here given. Dr. Francis Warner, in conjunction in many instances with Dr. Rogers, Dr. Rayner, and others, has made the investigations. The following notes are explanatory of his methods of observing and noting children. He writes:— To ascertain the condition of the children in a school, two independent reports should be made upon eacli child, points in regard to wliose pliysique the inquirers, in their opinion, consider worthy of note. One report should be made by the teachers, visitors, inspectors, &c. The other](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24398391_0004.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
