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For use in bacteriological work, 7,500 serum tubes were prepared in the laboratory
and 1,150 were obtained from the Belmont Antitoxin Establishment. In
addition, about 10,000 c.c. of various nutrient media were made.
Consultation visits.—In consultation with private practitioners, visits for help
in diagnosis were paid to three patients, whose symptoms had suggested
encephalitis, but who eventually proved to be cases of (1) tuberculous meningitis;
(2) cerebral arterial degeneration with chronic nephritis; and (3) cerebral
thrombosis.
Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913-27.
Cases dealt
with by the
Council.
On 31st December, 1930, there were being dealt with by the Council 6,440 cases.
Of these 3,712 were in institutions, 100 under guardianship, 2,592 under supervision
and 36 in places of safety awaiting action. During the year 7,268 cases were examined;
the figure includes 5,993 examined in connection with the investigation of the cases
of inmates of mental hospitals and institutions formerly under the care of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, but in 456 cases of the latter, as inquiries into early histories
had not been completed, analysis into classes had not been made by the end of the
year. The results are as follows :—
Class.
Cases seen in ordinary routine.
Cases seen in special investigation
in county mental hospitals and
institutions taken over during the
year from other authorities.
Males.
Females.
Males.
Females.
Idiot 11 13 191 179
Imbecile 127 90 874 850
Feeble-minded 525 425 1,133 908
Moral defective 3 — 4 —
Not defective 40 41 450 948
Under investigation — — 248 208
Total 706 569 2,900 3,093
In the table showing the cases seen in the county mental hospitals it will be
noted that large numbers are classified as " not defective." These numbers include
the results of examinations at Tooting Bee Mental Hospital where the majority of the
inmates are either those suffering from senility or chronic harmless insanity. In some
instances, though the patients were of the " defective " type, it was not possible to
establish a history prior to the age of 18 years.
During the year special attention was paid to the period of life at which
defectives were brought to notice and the following table gives an analysis
of 2,416 cases :—