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32
" If the child becomes insane that is a different matter, and
is included in the phrase ' for better or worse,' in that there
is a condition which has arisen after the adoption, but if
mental deficiency existed at the time, although not obvious,
this should render—in my opinion—any contract whether
through the Courts or otherwise—null and void."
Things dragged on until after an interview with Miss
Musson, she took the matter up again with the Society. At this
time the officers of the Society had changed, and a very different
atmosphere prevailed; the Secretary seemed willing and anxious
to do what was right, and eventually the Society itself suggested
drafting a Bill to cover the point which I had raised. It was
also also ascertained that the child had been born in Thavies Inn,
which is a Venereal Hospital for pregnant women. This fact
had not been communicated to the adopting parents, or if it had,
the nature of the Hospital had not been made clear to them.
Later in 1931 things got serious, and the state of affairs
is best shown in my letter to the Clerk to the Public Assistance
Authority:—•
" You will probably be hearing from the Secretary of
the National Adoption Association with regard to the abovementioned
child.
" This case is an absolute tragedy. The adopting
parents are the best type of Yorkshire folk, and took this
child from the National Adoption Association. The first
time I saw the child I told them that in my opinion it was
a mental defective. Subsequent events proved the correctness
of my diagnosis, and she has been duly certified—with
an intelligence quotient of 55.
" The adopting parents were at first loath to part with
the child, but latterly she has developed undesirable habits,
is robbing them, and threatening the adopting mother, who
is giving way under the strain and worry of the present
position.
" I have been fighting the Association on this matter
for nearly six years, and this morning I have had an interview
with the Secretary, who has agreed that it is impossible
to expect the adopting parents to keep the child.
" An additional factor of serious importance is that
the child was born in Thavies Inn, which as you know is
the City of London Hospital for pregnant women suffering
from venereal disease. This fact was concealed from the
adopting parents.