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The more serious cases were admitted to hospital, the remainder were treated in the remand
home. The majority of the conditions treated, such as diseases of the skin, were present on
admission. Pharyngeal infection has been frequent, but it has been of a mild type, and sequelae
have been uncommon. Cases of vaginal discharge have presented a more difficult problem.
In all the 62 cases (59 new cases, 3 recurrences) it has been necessary to admit the girls to hospital
for investigation. In the majority of cases the condition has proved to be non-specific, venereal
disease being diagnosed in 19 cases.
The physique and general health of those admitted showed little variation from those of
previous years. The motivating factors in delinquency are so variable and complex that valid
inferences about causal relationships, if any, between physique and delinquency can be made
only after careful correlation of physical factors with all the other factors in a large number of
individual cases. It is improbable that physical make-up plays any important part in delinquency.
The second important change during the year was the re-organisation of the personnel
investigating the children and young persons.
Until 10th July, the physical examination and the medical treatment were undertaken by a
full-time medical officer of the Council. All cases on remand were examined later by a psychologist
of the London child guidance clinic who estimated the intelligence and educational levels
by tests. In many cases the Court asked for a special psychiatric examination; such cases were
referred to a child guidance clinic.
In July these methods of investigation were co-ordinated by the appointment of a part-time
medico-psychologist at the remand home. The medico-psychologist examines physically every
child or young person not later than the day following admission. At a later date psychometric
tests are carried out on every case on remand.
Of those admitted, 58 were found to be mentally deficient. Combined with, or following,
the mental testing, an examination of a psychiatric type is made. This is of the nature of a
discussion with a view to ascertaining the state of mind of the child or young person and the
underlying causation of the delinquency.
While the child is on remand at the home, reports are received in many cases from the
probation officers and from the local education authority. It is only after reaching a definite
opinion that a final report on a special case is submitted to the Court. In some cases, in which
it is not possible to make a diagnosis without further personal information, e.g. an interview
with the relatives, full investigation at a child guidance clinic is recommended. There were
six such cases since the new arrangements came into operation.
It will be recognised that, in addition to specialised experience, an essential qualification
of a medico-psychologist is a complete lack of preconception in his approach to each case. That
the Courts are making greater use of the facilities provided is shown in the increasing demand
for special reports from the medico-psychologist. Such reports were furnished during the year
in the following numbers:—
First quarter 63
Second quarter 69
Third quarter 69
Fourth quarter 101
Total 302
A system of diagnostic classification on the principal bases of general intelligence, varieties
of character-traits and instinct-components, and physical and physiological features, considered
both for their physical and psychological significance, has been under course of development.
The aim is to collect adequate data which may afford valid general conclusions with regard to
various problems of delinquency.
Child guidance
During the past few years the transfer of the problem of the maladjusted or
" difficult" child from the sphere of the education and social services to that of