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68
Many of the conditions treated, such as infections of the skin and ear, were found on admission.
The incidence of vaginal discharge should be noted. Out of 65 cases discovered during
1937, 27, that is over 41 per cent., were found to be suffering from gonorrhoea; 7-3 per cent,
of all females admitted when over 14 years of age were therefore found to have gonorrhoea.
Two deaths occured in 1937. A boy aged 10 years died in Dulwich hospital on 6th April,
1937, from acute appendicitis and pericarditis. He had been in Dulwich hospital since 21st
November, 1936: A 6-months old infant (female) died from gastro-enteritis in Grove hospital
on 9th December, 1937. She was admitted, with others of her family, to the remand home, as a
place of safety, on 23rd November, and transferred the same day to St. Alfege's institution
and thence to Grove hospital.
Investigation of the psychological state of the young offender has been regarded as an integral
part of a general examination. Delinquency is considered as a disturbance of health. Health is
regarded as divisible into the 4 categories, suggested by Dr. I. S. Wile of New York. These are
physical, mental (in the sense of intelligence capacity), emotional and social. This division is
quite arbitrary, but is useful as a practical formulation. Though all four groups of factors are
to be assessed in each case, one or other tends to predominate in the aetiology of the delinquent
behaviour. The psychological classification adopted below is to be considered in conjunction with
this method of approach.
It is well to bear in mind that the responsibility for disposal rests entirely with the Court, and
that the purpose of these examinations is to furnish the magistrates with further information
which may assist them in disposing of the case. In the great majority of cases, recommendations
made following a request for a special report have been adopted.
The 2,331 children admitted in 1937 fall into 5 groups :—
(а) 387 were not examined psychologically. The majority of these were in the remand
home for only a few days pending hearing at Court. Others were lodgers. These included
absconders from approved schools who were admitted to the remand home until arrangements
could be made for them to be taken back to school, children admitted as to a " place of
safety " pending the presentation of petitions under the Mental Deficiency Acts, and similar
cases. 1
(б) 36 were not examined for various reasons ; in a few, the examination has still to
be made.
(c) 223 in which the school report furnished by the child's headmaster stated that the
mental ability, having regard to age, was normal, were submitted only to a short examination
in the nature of a discussion.
(d) 1,198 were mentally tested, using the Binet-Stanford scale (London revision) and a
short psychiatric examination was made in each case.
(e) 487 were examined in considerable detail at the request of the Courts.
A valid diagnosis of the causes underlying delinquency can but rarely be based solely on a
clinical psychiatric examination. Ideally the medico-psychologist should have at his disposal an
adequate history of the child's life from the earliest years and of the environmental influences to
which he has been subjected, including school and home conditions, outside interests and
associates, etc.

In groups (c) and (d), a school report recorded the headmaster's impression of the child, and
a brief record in very general terms was furnished by the special officer, who is a school attendance
officer specially appointed for the purpose, with regard to the home and environment. The school
medical cards were submitted for many of the children.
Of necessity, the time spent on the cases in groups (c) and (d) was very short, and the diagnostic
classification in tables 42 and 43 is to be regarded only as impressionistic, and not entirely
accurate or reliable. Further investigation of these cases would probably have resulted in a shift
downwards from the group of simple temperamental character-traits.
In table 43 a diagnostic survey is made of 470 of the cases in which a special report was asked
for by the Court. The examinations were careful and detailed, supplemented in 17 cases by a complete
investigation by a child guidance clinic team.
The special officers have helped considerably in furnishing detailed reports on the history
background and environment, and in obtaining school reports, medical record cards and care
committee files. Where cases were known to the probation officers, useful reports have been
furnished by them. Hospitals and clinics provide what information they may have. Occasionally
a parent is interviewed at the remand home. The organisation and efficiency of this service of
information has improved considerably during 1937.