42 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 



in the field of delinquency and criminality. There is a 

 tremendous work to be done by the medical profession 

 in this field, and it is to be hoped that the public health 

 officials will presently recognize their share in the re- 

 sponsibility. 



While a great deal can be accomplished in dealing with 

 the offender a great deal more can be done in the pre- 

 vention of delinquency. This requires in the first place 

 adequate recognition of the problem as a problem in 

 pathology, and adequate provisions for administering 

 such methods of treatment as our present knowledge 

 supplies. 



There is probably no department of our social organi- 

 zation in which more can be done than in the department 

 of education. In education up to now the main emphasis 

 has been placed upon intelligence and the acquisition of 

 knowledge as manifested by the progress of the child 

 through the grades and farther. A closer study of the 

 mental problems presented by any of the ordinary grade 

 schools, or by the high schools, as well as by the universi- 

 ties, such as has been carried out by the Institute for 

 Juvenile Eesearch in this State, especially in connection 

 with the High School at LaSalle, by the Bureau of Chil- 

 dren's Guidance in New York, by the National Commit- 

 tee for Mental Hygiene, and other agencies, has shown 

 that many a child or adolescent is acquiring habits which 

 are bound to prove dangerous or at best serious handi- 

 caps, on the basis of individual peculiarities or traits 

 which in themselves need not cause such difficulties. A 

 perfect understanding by analysis and examination be- 

 fore the major damage is done, before fixed habits are 

 formed, and before the accumulation of results of be- 

 havior present insurmountable obstacles, will often save 

 these children for effective and happy careers. 



Finally there is a field in which the application of men- 

 tal hygiene is beginning to make itself felt both on the 

 treatment as well as on the preventive side. This is the 

 field of industrial relations. Very promising work is 

 being done here in connection with industrial difficulties, 

 by contributions to the management of personality pe- 

 culiarities and difficulties which have important bearings 



