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and a few in mental hospitals; but all suffer from much the same mental and
physical conditions, the form of disposal being largely a matter of chance.
Should this disease continue to be prevalent, as unfortunately appears likely,
the question of making special provision for the education and control of the sufferers
of school age will ultimately need careful consideration, since, if left alone, they are
dangerous to themselves, and no slight menance to the community.
Fifty cases have been specially investigated by Dr. Shrubsall in regard to the
incidence of mental after-effects with the following results:—
Year of onset of acute illness. Age of onset.
Age. No. Age. No.
1910 1 1920 21 -1 1 7 3
1916 1 1921 6 1 2 8 4
1917 Nil 1922 4 2 3 9 2
1918 10 1923 2 3 1 10 5
1919 5 — 4 2 11 7
Total 50 5 5 12 5
6 9 13 1
Of the cases, twenty-five showed no definite physical signs other than some
irritability of the nervous system shown by increased knee jerks, etc., fourteen had
slight physical disability not amounting to crippling, six suffered from physical
disabilities resulting in definite crippling, five were more or less helpless and
deteriorating, and one child was blind from double optic atrophy. It was
possible to estimate the mental condition in forty-seven out of the fifty cases, the
intelligence quotients being :—
Quotient .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 and over
No. 1 Nil 2 4 13 11 16
Their educational attainments range from the infants' grades to Standard
VII, the bulk of the children being between Standards I and IV. The majority
of the children showed signs of emotional disturbances, sixteen were described as
restless, spoilt or spiteful, nine were noted as sleepy and apathetic, in six pilfering
was a marked feature, while in six they were out of control. One suffered from
screaming fits, and another was described as very childish. Six only were noted
as emotionally normal, while in five the physical defects were the predominant
feature in the syndrome.
286 children were referred for special examination as suffering from deafness. Deaf children.
These cases were seen by the Council's consulting aural surgeon, with the children,
following results:—
Fit for elementary school 14
,, „ „ (front row) 57
„ hard of hearing centre 83
„ deaf school (normal) 98
„ „ (defective) 1
„ mentally defective centre 6
„ physically defective centre 2
Invalided 12
Advice given 10
Imbecile or idiot 3
286
In the cases found suitable for special education, the cause of deafness has been
classified as under:—
Boys. Girls. Total.
Congenital 16 25 41
Acquired 62 66 128
Doubtful 5 4 9
83 95 178