London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Ilford 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
This page requires JavaScript
180
Imbecile Children.—Total number certified in 1935 and
recommended for notification to Essex County Council 2
Idiots.—Total number certified in 1935, and recommended
for notification to Essex County Council 2
Dull and Backward Children.—Total number certified in 1935
and recommended attendance at special class for dull
and backward children for one year, and then to be
re-examined 15
The following table shows the mental age (by the Binet Simon
tests) and the intelligence quotient of the feeble-minded children
examined during 1935.
The border-line of mental deficiency is where the intelligence quotient is about 75.
| Actual age in years. | Mental age in years. | Intelligence Quotient. |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | 3.0 | 58.8 |
| 5.3 | 3.0 | 56.3 |
| 5.4 | 2.8 | 51.8 |
| 5.5 | 2.7 | 50.0 |
| 7.5 | 4.4 | 58.6 |
| 7.8 | 5.6 | 70.6 |
| 8.1 | 3.8 | 48.2 |
| 9.0 | 6.6 | 73.0 |
| 9.25 | 4.4 | 47.5 |
| 10.2 | 6.2 | 60.8 |
| 10.35 | 7.0 | 67.7 |
| 12.0 | 8.2 | 68.3 |
| 12.17 | 6.9 | 58.3 |
| 12.66 | 9.0 | 71.0 |
| 13.3 | 9.2 | 69.6 |
| 13.4 | 9.3 | 69.4 |
| 13.9 | 9.2 | 66.2 |
(1) Idiots.-—Idiots are, within the meaning of the Mental
Deficiency Act, 1913, persons so defective in mind from an early age
as to be unable to guard themselves against common physical dangers.
The Authority responsible for dealing with such children is the
Essex County Council. There are 15 cases under the age of 16 years
known to the department. 5 are in a residential institution and
10 are at home.
(2) Imbeciles.—Imbeciles are persons whose mental defectiveness
does not amount to idiocy, yet is so pronounced that they are incapable
of managing themselves or their affairs; or, in the case of children, of
being taught to do so. The Authority responsible for dealing with
these children is also the Essex County Council. There are 20 cases
under the age of 16 years known to the department. 1 is in a
residential institution and 19 are at home.