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of the Authorised Officers to obtain whenever possible,
written medical advice in support of the action they propose
taking.
(c) Under the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913-1938.
i. Ascertainment of mental defectives.
Children are referred from Infant Welfare Centres, from
the hospitals and by general practitioners. The certifying
Medical Officers are also School Medical Officers approved
by the Minister of Education for the ascertainment of
Educationally Sub-normal Children, so that there is prior
knowledge of any defectives notified by the Education Department
as ineducable or leaving special schools. Supervision
is carried out by each Authorised Officer in his own area.
ii. Guardianship.
Defectives under guardianship in Croydon are visited
by the Authorised Officer of the area concerned and by the
Deputy Medical Officer of Health. Those supervised by the
Guardianship Society are visited by their visitors and their
medical consultant. A small number in the areas of other
local authorities have been visited by the Mental Deficiency
visitors of the local health authority concerned, on a
reciprocity basis.
The Corporation maintains an Occupation Centre with
a total capacity of 90 places, but which is at present being
restricted to 60 defectives. This Centre is held in a large
building especially adapted for the purpose, with excellent
playgrounds. A midday meal is provided (from the School
Meals Service) and all children are brought to and from the
Centre by coaches. Regular visits for health inspection are
paid by the School Nurse/Health Visitor of the area, and by
the Deputy Medical Officer of Health.
No home teaching facilities are considered necessary inview
of this provision.
In conclusion, I have already mentioned the high mortality
experienced in December and this reflected the heavy burden of
work which fell upon the domiciliary health services, at a time
when staffs were themselves depleted by sickness. These conditions
continued with greater emphasis into 1953 and will be dealt with in