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tives in West Ham, responsibility for whom rests with the Board
of Guardians. It is to be expected however that with the coming
into operation of the Local Government Act, 1929, and the consequent
repeal of the proviso (ii) of Section 80 of the Mental
Deficiency Act, 1913, which lays down that except under certain
conditions, Local Authorities shall have no duties with respect to
defectives who are being provided for by the Poor Law Authority,
the number of registered cases will be appreciably increased.
The ascertainment of cases of mental defect in children
between the ages of 7 years and 16 years is entirely the duty of the
Local Education Authority, and only those cases which are found
to be ineducable or whose continued attendance at school would
have a detrimental effect upon other scholars, come to the notice
of the Local Authority before reaching the age of 16 years. In
addition, cases of scholars who having attained the age of 16
years and whom it is considered would receive some benefit from
being placed under friendly supervision are also notified to me.
No special ascertainment officer is employed in West Ham
and in the carrying out of the duties in connection with ascertaining
cases of mental defect residing within the area of West Ham
very valuable assistance is obtained from the full co-operation with
the Local Education Authority, School Attendance Officers, Assistant
School Medical Officers, Poor Law Officers, Health Visitors
and the various voluntary organisations interested in such matters.
All cases reported to me are medically examined and in the event
of being certified suitable care and treatment is obtained as far as
possible. The records of those persons who are found to be only
borderland cases are kept and friendly visits to the homes are
paid by the supervising nurse. If at a later date it is deemed desirable,
these cases are re-examined and certified if necessary.
Supervision.
On the 31st December, 1929, there were 385 Mental Defectives
on the register, of which number 255 (151 Males and 104
Females) were under Statutory Supervision in their own homes.
Supervision is carried out by a specially appointed Nurse, who
has had very considerable experience in this kind of work. All of
these cases are visited at intervals of from one to three months
according to the circumstances of the individual case. A number
of defectives are only under supervision because no institutional
accommodation is available for them, and it is in these cases that
supervision is not very satisfactory, for as no real assistance can
be afforded to the parents, it is not unnatural that they do not
welcome the visits of the Nurse, and often refuse to supply information
regarding the defective. As regards the remainder,
Statutory Supervision becomes a simple and inexpensive method
of care for well-behaved defectives living in good homes. In
cases where it is found that the defective is not being properly
cared for, all endeavours are made to obtain a more suitable
guardian.
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