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specially appointed for this work. The parents or guardians
are advised as to the best methods of training and caring for
the defective and efforts are made to assist in every possible
way. In the majority of cases the visits and advice given are
welcomed and appreciated.
A large number of the defective under supervision are in
fairly regular employment and are self-supporting.
LICENCE. During the year 11 defectives (7 males and
4 females) were granted licence from institutions, and 9 patients
(5 males and 4 females) who were on licence had to be recalled
to institutions owing to unsatisfactory conduct and other
reasons; in addition, one patient was dealt with under the
Lunacy Acts. The Orders in respect of 7 patients (5 males
and 2 females) on licence were discharged. At the end of the
year 27 defectives (15 males and 12 females) remained on
licence.
SOUTH OCKENDON COLONY
Report by Medical Superintendent—
Dr. Bernard Matheson, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.M.
On the 1st January, 1947, there were 441 patients subject
to the provisions of the Mental Deficiency Acts on the register—
viz., 215 men, 163 women, 40 boys and 23 girls. During the
year, 44 patients were admitted (8 men, 26 women, 7 boys,
3 girls), while 3 men and 2 women died and 7 men and 3 women
were discharged, leaving a total of 470 (223 men, 187 women,
37 boys and 23 girls) remaining on 31st December, 1947.
In addition to these patients there were on 1st January,
1947, 120 uncertified patients (7 men, 7 boys, 96 women, 10
girls) being cared for in the Colony. During the year no
uncertified patient was admitted, while 5 women and 2 girls died,
and 4 men, 1 boy and 23 women were discharged, leaving a
total of 85 (3 men, 6 boys, 67 women and 9 girls) remaining
on 31st December, 1947.
There were a total of 555 patients—viz., 226 men, 43 boys,
254 women and 32 girls—remaining on the Colony register on
31st December, 1947.
ACCOMMODATION. Although the Board of Control's
Certificate for this Colony is for 474 patients, the number of
patients accommodated averages 515. The Colony therefore
has not been quite so overcrowded as in the past two years.
Despite this, we are constantly being pressed to admit patients,
particularly of the lowest grade, and waiting lists for both West
Ham and East Ham have developed. Appeals to accommodate
patients from outside the two Boroughs are also being
received regularly. These appeals reflect the shortage of beds
for mental defectives which is general throughout the country,
and further stress the need for the additional accommodation
already emphasised in my reports for 1944, 1945 and 1946.
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