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Show : FEEBLE-MINDED ARE ; REPORTED ON BY COMMISSION There are at least three individuals in each 1000 of Utah's population who need care as feeble-minded persons. Such is the extent of feeble-mlnded-ness in tho state of Utah, according to a preliminary report filed yesterday with the governor by the commission for investigation of feeble-mindedness authorized by the last legislature. This is In addition, the roport explains, to the backward children found In the public schools who are capable of continuing in school and profiting by such specialized instruction as is given giv-en them there. Tho percentage of feeble-mindedness is less than the average of other states, the commission finds, as the average in other places is about four per 1000 of population. The commission was created for tho purpose of ascertaining the exact extent ex-tent of feeble-mindedness in Utah and recommending to the legislature proper prop-er methods of handling this condition. The commission states in Its preliminary prelim-inary report that it will embody its recommendations in regard to care of the feeble-minded in a detailed report to be submitted later. Work Is Detailed. Tho present report, which is merely mere-ly intended to point out some of the conditions found, is in part as follows: "On September 1, active work was started by Miss Sadie R, Myers, Miss Jane Griffiths, the latter being in the employ of the national committee, and Georgo Snow Gibbs, who has been assigned as-signed to the work in Salt Lake City by Superintendent E. A. Smith. It is recognized by the members of the commission, as well as by the field workers, that an exhaustive and detailed de-tailed survey would not be possible, but that the investigation must necessarily neces-sarily be largely preliminary in character. char-acter. From September 1 until the present time Mr. Gibbs has been prosecuting pros-ecuting the work in Salt Lake City, while the two lady workers have covered cov-ered tho territory outside of Salt Lake City embraced within the following counties; Salt Lake, Weber, Cache, Utah, Davis and Sanpete. Sufficient information has already been collected to make clear that there are at least three individuals in each 1000 of the state's population who need care as feeble-minded persons, i. e., In addition addi-tion to the backward children in the public schools who can continue in the schools and profit by such specialized special-ized instruction as can be provided them. These people are made up of the following groups: Those children who should bo permanently cared for in an institution established and maintained main-tained for that purpose; those who are men and women, chronologically, who cannot be further trained, but who should be under supervision and kept in separate colonies for the men and women, respectively; those who are now doing fairly well undpr private pri-vate supervision and can well continue con-tinue in the care of their relatives. Condition Is Inherited. "Some of the well-known facts bear- ing upon the problem of the care of the feeble-minded are worthy of reiteration: reit-eration: "Feeble-mindedness is inherited In at least two-thirds of all cases. The feeble-minded mother is twice as prolific in tho bearing of children as is the normal mother. "The feeble-minded lack in judgment judg-ment and resistance to evil influences and are, therefore, unable to adjust themselves to normal life in the community. com-munity. "These important facts are all borne out in our investigations in the state of Utah. In addition, our survey sur-vey has revealed the following important import-ant facts, some of which are quite generally known: "We have some feeble-minded people peo-ple at present being cared for in the state mental hospital. "About 40 per cent of the students of the State Industrial school are feeble-minded. "Feeble-minded people are to be found In our stale school for deaf and blind, in county infirmaries and in the state prison. "There are a large number in tho public schools, many of whom should be permanently cared for in an institution insti-tution organized for that purpose. "Many of the boys and girls accused ac-cused of delinquency who are brought into the juvenile courts for treatment are fcoble-minded and Irresponsible. Make Further Search. "A large number are being Inadequately Inade-quately carer' for In private home's, while some are being adequately and humanely cared for in private homes. "The careful study of the statistics embodying the records of some 2000 cases which will be made by the commission com-mission during the next three or four weeks will enable us to give accurate information as to the number of each of the above groups. The state's duty to these unfortunates will be made much clearer, for example, when we are able to say, as we shall be, just how many of the children in the public schools can profit by specialized special-ized instruction that can bo provided therein; how many should receive the kind of instruction and care that can be given only in an institution organized organ-ized fo(r that purpose; how many feeble-minded women of child-bearing age thore are; to what extent the feeble-minded women and feebleminded feeble-minded men can be made self-supporting under proper direction, and what is the extent of waste now entailed by reason of the fact that those already al-ready being cared for are in institutions institu-tions not intended for such unfortunates. unfortu-nates. "It will be clear from the preceding that the commission has devoted its attention primarily to the matter of learning the extent of the state's problem prob-lem (as it exists in the counties above mentioned) in tho care of the feeble-I feeble-I minded, believing that such informa- tion would be most serviceable. Much attention has been given, to be provided pro-vided by the state in meeting this responsibility, re-sponsibility, and, if consistent with your own desire and that of your successor, suc-cessor, the commission will be pleased to embody in the more detailed report, re-port, which will be submitted about ; January 20, 1917, the results 'of its investigation into this phase of the : problem." The report Is signed by the follow- i ing members of the commission: D. i H. Calder, M. D.; E. G. Gowans, M. D.; ' Charles G. Plummer, M. D. |
