| OCR Text |
Show HUM.4.N DEFECTIVES. Ilethodi of Treatment Suggested For Certain Cer-tain Classes of I'ubllc Dependents. Dr. James W. Walk, in a lecture on "Defectives" before the University of Pennsylvania, defined the defectives as those members of society hiving serious mental or physical defects, either con-geqital con-geqital or acquired. This group comprised com-prised six classes first, the blind; second, sec-ond, the deaf mutes; third, insane; fourth, the feeble niinded; or idiots; fifth, the inebriates where drunkenness drunken-ness has become a diseao and sixth, the epileptics. . Dr. Walk took np each of these class es and stated what he believed to be the best way to deal with them. Of the blind and deaf be said: "Blind, deaf and feeble minded children ha've as much claim to an educatibn as others, and since their defects prevent them from receiving it in the ordinary public schools it ia only just that they should be instructed in schools especially adapted adapt-ed to their condition. Such schools arf I also a most economical investment of public money, for by meads of the training train-ing they give the great majority of the blind and deaf mutes become self supporting sup-porting in adult life. "To fit blind children for self support it is necessary that their discipline while at school should be rigid, so as to impart thoroughness in the practice of the few industries, such as weaving and music, which are open to them. The managers of the best schools for the blind now insist npon this rigid training, train-ing, and in this way sometimes incur unpopularity among th&9 who do not understand their real motive. "For those of the adult blind who cannot maintain themselves in open competition with normal workmen there should be founded- in each state industrial homes where ibeymay reside and labor, the deficiency in their earning earn-ing being supplied by benevolence, j Where such homes are t"v conducted they are nearly self supp epJng. "Under the stimulus ; tfhe popular interest excited by th' jquent addresses ad-dresses of the great philainL-opist, Dorothea Doro-thea Dix, Pennsylvania many years ago undertook to make adequate provision for the insane at nWUc' exnense. Th first institution tor tliilr care in' iae' commonwealth was the insane department depart-ment of the old Pennsylvania hospital. We have now many asylums for these people, but not enough yet to accommodate accommo-date th&m all. Asylums should be so regulated that the inmates can work and be self supporting." Dr. Walk thought that idiots, or the feeble minded, should not be permitted to marry. Of epileptics he thought the same, as their defects are hereditary. Inebriates should be confined for a long period, during which they would be forced to abstain totally. This treatment, treat-ment, he said, results often in permanent perma-nent cure. Philadelphia Press. |
