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Much progress has been made during the year regarding the
provision of a colony for mental defectives at South Ockenden.
Approval has been obtained to proceed immediately to erect sufficient
accommodation for 120 cases in order to provide room for
the West Ham and East Ham defectives who are at present detained
in the London County Council's institutions, and for the
more urgent cases awaiting institutional care.
These patients will be accommodated in two blocks, which
will be part of the complete colony. A third block, ultimately intended
for patients, is to be erected and adapted for use temporarily
as an administrative block.
1 need hardly mention the exceptional urgency for speedy completion
of the whole colony. A tremendous amount of time is
spent in endeavouring to secure suitable vacancies in institutions
for defectives, and it is becoming almost mpossible to place fresh
cases. Practically all institutions are not only full, but have long
waiting lists, and all except a very few refuse even to place names
on their lists of waiting cases.
Cuardianship.
There are two cases at present in the care of guardians under
Order, both females ; one in the care of her mother, and the other
her sister. The girl under the guardianship of her sister is becoming
rather difficult to manage at home, and endeavours are
being made to arrange her admission into a suitable institution.
The other girl is well behaved, and is being properly cared for.
In addition to these two cases, there are two females on
licence from institutions. Both of these patients arc progressing
very well, and are much happier than before being granted leave.
These girls were placed with the assistance of the Central Association
for Mental Welfare. This Association has had a scheme for
some years whereby defectives are placed out under suitable
persons, and cases so placed are kept under supervision by a
special Guardianship Officer.
It will be readily understood that only the best type of defectives
can be selected for this scheme, and that the greatest care is
necessary in the selection of suitable guardians.
Prevention of Mental Deficiency.
Mental Deficiency is a condition, the prevention of
which is a very involved subject. One of the most discussed
methods at present is Sterilization, by means of
which it is hoped to prevent mental defectives from procreating.
There can be no two opinions as to the desirability of allowing
persons who have been certified as being unable to manage their
own affairs becoming parents. To give such persons the control
of helpless children would be unwise to a degree.
Sterilization would, of course, prevent defectives from producing
children, but it is verv doubtful how far it would reduce the
incidence of mental defectiveness. Investigation shows that only
a small proportion of defectives come from defective parents.
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