112 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS — SECTION F. 



of feeble-mindedness and of functional mental and nervous dis- 

 orders and possibly a certain number of case of detnentia prsecox 

 might be prevented. While we are endeavouring to attain this 

 distant ideal, there is much that ought to be done immediately. 

 The earlier psychoses are treated the more chance of success. 

 Amongst the general public there is still much aversion against 

 sending a patient to a mental hospital. In this way valuable 

 time is often lost and the chances of recovery are prejudiced. 

 There is a crying need for facilities of early and effective treat- 

 ment of incipient cases in psychopathic wards, which should be a 

 special department of general hospitals. The sooner the public 

 in general realises the urgency of this necessity, the sooner we 

 can hope for the establishment of such wards in at least some of 

 our bigger centres. 



Another great want is a substantial increase in the staffs of 

 our present mental hospitals, and of more encouragement and 

 facilities for research. Then, by the combined efforts of all the 

 private individuals and the various authorities concerned, can we 

 hope for a gradual increase of our knowledge of better and more 

 effective treatment and of greater chances for prevention in 

 future. 



