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I need hardly mention the exceptional urgency for the speedy
provision of accommodation at Ockendon.
The duty of looking after mental defectives is a very onerous
one, and in families where there are other children to be cared
for, it is extremely trying to the parent or person responsible, and
is in some cases a contributory factor to a breakdown in health.
Proposed New Institution.
The proposed new institution for mental detectives is situated
in the parish of South Ockendon and the Rural District of Orsett,
in the County of Essex, about three-quarters of a mile from South
Ockendon Station, and comprises about 204 acres. This institution
is to accommodate 750 patients as follows:—
Adult Males (in Villas) 240
Adult Females (in Villas) 180
Children Males (in Villas) 100
Children Females (in Villas) 100
Lowest Grade, Males and Females (in
Villas) 58
Hospital—General 60
Hospital—Cases of Tuberculosis 12
750
The layout consists of villas for male and female patients,
school with classrooms, recreation hall, kitchen block, including
bakery, laundry and boiler house, mortuary, staff quarters, workshops
for male and female patients, hospital blocks for general
treatment, and for cases of tuberculosis, houses for Tvledical Superintendent,
Steward, Chief Engineer, and Chief Attendant, Nurses'
Home, and male nurses' quarters, maids' quarters, farm buildings,
also attendants' and labourers' cottages.
Sterilisation.
It would appear that much may be said in favour of the
sterilisation of mental defectives, but it should be remembered
that in a considerable percentage of defectives no family history
of mental defect is forthcoming. If sterilisation is to be carried
out in a logical manner, consideration will have to be given as to
the advisability or otherwise of sterilising the drunkard, the
vicious, and other types of persons presenting mental abnormalities
as such persons are liable to, and indeed do, reproduce mental
defectives.
Obviously, research into the causer of mental deficiency is
urgently needed.
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