XI. The Feeble-minded. CARE OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED. BY F. M. POWELL, M.D. Between the years 1848 and 1884, eleven public institutions were organized in the United States for the care and training of feebleminded children, the latter year finding 2,429 feeble-minded persons cared for in institutions. In the centennial year, 1876, the officers of these institutions met in Pennsylvania, and organized an association for the interchange of ideas in relation to this work, designed to disseminate information relative to the condition of imbecility, with a view of further advancing their interests; but not until 1884 was this class of deficients accorded a hearing by the National Conference of Charities, when the late Dr. Kerlin and the Hon. H. M. Greene (of Kansas), representing that association, submitted their claims. Since then, questions pertaining to this form of charitable work have been presented and considered at each succeeding annual meeting. The inspiration of the apostle Seguin, and the labors of Wilbur, Knight, Brown, Howe, Kerlin, and others, are therefore not new to you. The seed planted by these early philanthropists has proven so prolific of practical results that we, their successors, must recognize and admire their wisdom and foresight in laying an abiding foundation for the development of this new charity. As chairman of the Standing Committee on the Feeble-minded, I have to report, first, some statistics and data which indicate the present status of the work among this class, with brief remarks on the same. land has been made for the joint purpose of providing for the care of the insane and feeble-minded. d Capability. To the foregoing table I append the following list of foreign institutions, with numbers of inmates, but with no general data: France. Bicêtre, Paris, feeble-minded and epileptics. Berlin, Dalldorf, for feeble-minded Hochweitzschen, Saxony, for epileptics. Düsseldorf, Gladbach, for feeble-minded Langanhagen, Hanover, for feeble-minded and epileptics Stettin, Würtemberg, for epileptics Kückenmuhl, Stettin, for epileptics Hamburg, Alsterdorf, for epileptics Bielefeld, epileptic colony Freiburg, Schlesia, feeble-minded and epileptics. Switzerland.- Zürich, Institution for epileptics Norway. Christiania, Thonhaug, for feeble-minded Sweden.- Lund, Institution for feeble-minded Stockholm, School for feeble-minded . Upsala, Industrial Institution for feeble-minded Finland. Pistrila, feeble-minded. Denmark.― Copenhagen, Keller's Institution, feeble-minded Copenhagen, Gl. Bakkehus, feeble-minded SUMMARY FOR UNITED STATES. Total number of States providing for feeble-minded persons 500 1,000 250 500 200 600 500 500 500 1,200 400 200 200 200 200 50 600 600 Number presumably capable of reproduction (estimated and not complete), 3,736 It will be observed that nineteen States now maintain twenty-four public institutions, and care for 8,492 feeble-minded persons, as compared with less than 7,000 reported last year. This is due to an increase of capacity in older institutions and to the establishment of new ones, notably, in Western Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Of 95,609 feeble-minded persons reported in the census of 1890, about 87,000 are unprovided with organized care by public beneficence; but, in view of the interest manifested, we may confi dently anticipate that each succeeding year will find additional provision made for this class of dependants. It will be noted that these institutions care for a greater number of males than females. This is partly due to the fact that parents are more reluctant to part with their afflicted girls than with their boys. Schools. It not infrequently occurs that persons occupying positions of trust and authority, members of our various legislatures, and others, are sceptical as to the expediency of burdening the public with the expense of maintaining a school department in institutions for feeble-minded, on the ground that such training can be of no value to beings who, in their judgment, will never reach the point of self-support. I have ascertained the ideas on this subject of many engaged in this work, and find in all instances the same conclusions; namely, that, for the life of the individual, usefulness of the work, and economy of the administration, it is imperative to continue the schools. The specialists of to-day have, however, virtually abandoned the belief that the school training of imbeciles can ever develop and restore them to safe citizenship. The same principles involved in educating the physical and mental forces of a normal child apply to the sub-normal. We do not now regard the school training of the feeble-minded child as an ultimate aim and end; but, as the education of the normal child is only preparatory to a participation in the activities of life in the great world, so we propose by similar means to prepare the mentally weak for the exercise of their limited. activities in their circumscribed world,— in institution life, after the preparatory period is passed, during which each one is fitted to fill his niche according to the degree of his ability. Halleck, in his work upon the education of the "Central Nervous System," remarks that "the person of ordinary ability needs to begin early to train his nervous system, while the brief morning of plasticity lasts." Scientists agree that the improvable or plastic period is limited by natural endowment. Those whom nature has endowed with normal mental and physical organizations reach the end of the formative period between twenty and twenty-five years: a few who are favored with an exceptionally strong physical basis may even continue in this stage until thirty; while the same period in the mentally feeble terminates at a much earlier age, the zenith being soon passed, and followed by a correspondingly early decay. Child study is doing much to enlighten the present generation as to methods of child culture. |