The feeble-minded, epileptic, deformed and crippled : an interim report containing statistical tables based on an inquiry in regard to the bodily condition and brain development of children in poor-law schools and in certain public elementary, certified industrial and other schools, chiefly in the metropolis.

  • Charity Organisation Society (London, England)
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The feeble-minded, epileptic, deformed and crippled : an interim report containing statistical tables based on an inquiry in regard to the bodily condition and brain development of children in poor-law schools and in certain public elementary, certified industrial and other schools, chiefly in the metropolis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    i I Column 20. Hand Balance Nervous.—In these cases, when the arm is extended forwards, the wrist droops, the palm is sHghtly contracted laterally, the thumb and fingers are extended backwards, and at their junction with the palm of the hand. Column 21. Hand Balance Weak.—In this type of balance the wrist is slightly drooped, the palm contracted laterally, and the digits are slightly bent. Column 22. Finger Twitches.—This is seen when the hand is held forwards for inspection. Column 2B. Lordosis.—In these cases, when the hands are held forwards, an altered balance of the spine may be seen, with an arching forward in the lumbar region, while the upper part between the shoulders is thrown back. Column 24. Other Nerve-signs.—These include defects such as the following: slowness to respond to a command, when, for instance, the children are told to hold their hands out in front of them ; uncertainty, irregularity, or blundering in responding to such a command; defects of speech ; over-smiling or grinning ; openness of mouth ; and tremor. Of the arrangement of the tables a word must be said. The first is Table I., General Statement (p. 7), giving the total numbers of children seen and noted. With it, as sub-tables, are statements of the number of the mentally exceptional, of the epileptic, or cases with history of fits, of the crippled or maimed, and of the deaf. Questions were asked in every school in regard to epileptic cases. Any case with a history of epilepsy or fits was recorded for what it was worth. In regard to cripples : many of these were incapacitated for life, others only temporarily. Some were mentally dull, others bright. In physical health they differed greatly. The General Statement is followed by Table II., General Statistical Summary (p. 8). Tables III., IV., V., VI. (pp. 9- 22) contain the General Analysis of each group of schools, taken in the following order: Poor Law Schools, Certified Industrial Schools, Homes and Orphan- ages, Public Elementary Schools, the classification adopted in the opening General Statement. Table VII. (p. 23) shows the percentage op conditions of defective development upon the number of children seen in Public Elementary Schools, &c., in twenty districts, and also upon the number of development cases seen. Table VIII. (p. 24) gives the same particulars in regard to Poor Law Schools. Tables IX. and X. (p. 26) give particulars in regard to epileptic cases in Poor Law Schools, and in Public Elementary Schools. Tables XL, XII., XIII., XIV. (pp. 28 and 29) give particulars in regard to cripples, &c., in the several groups of schools. Tables XV., XVI., XVII., XVIII. (pp. 29 and 30) show the co-rel.\tion of mental dulness with defects in development. Tables XIX., XX., XXL, XXII. (pp. 30 and 31) show co-relation of combined conditions WITH MENTAL DULNESS. Table XXIII. (p. 31). This table is a summary of the co-eelation of total cases of DEFECTS in DEVELOPMENT, and of the SEVERAL DEFECTS IN DEVELOPMENT respectively. Table XXIV. (p. 32) supplements the preceding table by giving the percentages of nerve-signs, low nutrition, and dulness, severally upon each development condition. Table XXV. (p. 32) is a summary of the co-relation of total number of cases of abnormal nerve-signs and of the several abnormal nerve-signs. Table XXVI. (p. 33) supplements the preceding table by giving the percentages of cases of abnormal nerve-signs, &c., upon three groups of cases: (1) defects in development; (2) low nutrition ; (3) mental dulness. NoTA Bene.—IT MUST NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED THAT THE PROPORTION OF CHILDREN ENTERED IN THE TABLES AS DEFECTIVE IN DEVELOPMENT, &c., IS THE PROPORTION WHICH WOULD PREVAIL IN THE TOTAL CHILD- POPULATION OF A DISTRICT. FROM OTHER EVIDENCE IT IS CERTAIN THAT MANY CHILDREN THUS DEFECTIVE ARE NOT TO BE FOUND IN THE SCHOOLS, WHETHER PUBLIC ELEMENTARY OR POOR LAW. TO FIND THE PROPORTION OF SUCH CHILDREN IN A DISTRICT THEREFORE, FURTHER INQUIRY IS NECESSARY. THE TABLES ONLY GIVE THE PROPORTION OF CASES SEEN AMONG THE CPIILDREN ATTENDING THE SCHOOLS ON CERTAIN DATES. IT MUST BE BORNE IN MIND THAT APART FROM THESE VERY IMPORTANT LIMITATIONS, THE TABLES, AS THEY STAND, ARE RATHER A COLLECTION OF DATA AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF A METHOD OF INVESTIGATION, THAN MATERIAL SET FORTH WITH SUCH NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS AS WOULD JUSTIFY THE DRAWING OF ANY LARGE GENERAL CONCLUSIONS BEARING ON PRACTICAL ADMINISTRATION. IN CONNECTION WITH THE TABLES ON pp. 22, 30. 31, AND 32 WILL BE FOUND NOTES SUGGESTIVE OF SOME OF THE CONCLUSIONS WHICH MAY BE DRAWN FROM THE COMPLETED REPORT. Charity Organisation Society, 15 Buckingham Stuekt, C. S, LOCH, Secretary. Strand, W.C. July 1891.