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eighteen, whether arising from inherent causes, or induced by disease or injury.
In particular this has brought in those whose mental condition has been affected
by encephalitis lethargica occurring after early childhood. There are 7 examples
in this series. The educational attainments and mental ages of these persons are
much higher than those of the average of cases of ordinary amentia, their certifiability
being due to their markedly childish reactions and conduct. On account
of their special characteristics they have been sent to a particular institution—The
Manor. The striking feature in this and other years is the small proportion of females,
numbering 17 as compared with 75 males, though the numbers of girls and boys in
the M.D. schools are nearly equal.
The antecedents of 81 cases as regards education are here given separated for
sex, the females being shown in brackets: Elementary schools (London) 24, (6);
(Provinces) 7, (3); Mentally defective schools (London) 28, (4); Other education
8, (0); Not known (1). Totals, 67 (14). Under the heading "Other education"
is included. a lad who was at a well-known public school until he was excluded.
The proportion of those who had attended M.D. schools is lower than might be
expected, and the reason for this appears to be:—
(i.) The inclusion of the cases of encephalitis lethargica previously noted
with the addition of the few persons deemed to be morally defective, that is,
showing their defect more by vicious and irrational conduct than by lack of
aptitude for literary education.
(ii.) The inclusion of a number of persons with some resemblance to those
just noted, showing less intelligence and educability, yet not quite incapable
of benefit in an ordinary elementary school. The majority of these it was said
attained Standard IV. at school, but on investigation it appeared that on account
of age and growth they were put up into a higher class than their attainments
would justify.
(iii.) There is no case mentioned as coming from a provincial M.D. school.
On account of the lack of provision of special schools in country districts many
children who in London would be sent to M.D. schools have to be kept in elementary
schools though their educational attainments are almost nil.
(iv.) Finally, two cases who apparently in London would have been sent
to M.D. schools, were not brought to notice during the school period, and so
did not receive a statutory examination under the Education Acts.
The large number of cases from the lowest classes of elementary schools is
consistent with the fact that it is not so much the markedly and obviously mentally
deficient as the backward and unstable who become delinquents. In the majority
of these the question of certification under the Mental Deficiency Act never arises,
it is only when their intelligence is on the border line and their social inefficiency
demonstrated in practice that they come to be dealt with. It is this group with
whom many authorities think that continued education in a wide sense might make
all the difference. The proportion of mentally deficient scholars is especially low
in the females. This year's figures are small by themselves, but this feature and also
the appreciable number who come from country schools has been obvious each year.
It may be connected with the fact that girls in the London M.D. schools are retained
till 16. Even then, if there is any doubt as to their character or home control,
they are more likely to be recommended for institutional care or supervision
than the lad who has a prospect of obtaining work.
With the delinquents who had been in special schools, the "mental ages"
found in prison can be compared with those found at the last examination in special
school. There were 24 cases in which this was possible. In 17 of them the figures
were identical, i.e., a mental age of 9 was found at age 21 in prison, and also at
age 15 in school. In 3 cases it appeared to be 6 months or 1 year higher, and in 4
cases it seemed to be 6 months or 1 year less. The numbers are small but they seem