ON MENTAL AND TflYSICAL DEFECTS OF CHILDREN. 



463 



I 



This Coumiittee, first appointed in 1^92, have rejjorted each year, and 

 information thus supplied concerning the mental and physical conditions 

 of childhood has afforded evidence in a wide field of research. Among 

 other pi'oblems advanced it has been shown that, with certain constitu- 

 tional conditions of congenital deficiency and acquired defects as foitnd 

 among boys and girls respectively, the status varies in the age-groups. 

 It appears liighly probable that the heavy mortality under five years of 

 age, which falls principally on the boys, is largely due to developmental 

 defects, while children with such congenital defect wlio survive add largely 

 to the proportion of the dull and delicate jjupils in schools, and to the 

 number of neurotic persons who often fail in health at adult age. 



The main classes of defect among children are more frequent with 

 boys, while the girls with defective constitution tend in larger proportion 

 than the boys to ill-health and brain disorderliness. 



To summarise problems previously demonstrated, development- defect 

 cases are very frequently delicate and dull. Children with (motor) brain 

 disorderliness are often dull ; so are the children who are naturally deli- 

 cate. Dull pupils often present defect in development as well as delicacy 

 and (motor) brain disorderliness needing special care and training. 



Departures from the normal are more frequent among males ; but the 

 females with developmental defect or brain disorderliness are more apt to 

 rocei\^e harm and to receive less good from their environment than males. 

 This indicates the care required, and is illustrated by the more hopeless 

 condition of female lunatics and criminals. 



It has been shown that good effects follow the employment of physical 

 training at school in diminishing the number of children with signs of 

 brain disorderliness and the proportion of dull jjupils. 



Children in poor-law and industrial schools are below the average in 

 bodily development and mental ability. It appears that home life and 

 day school training are move advantageous than institution training. 



The investigations that have been carried out and study of the distri- 

 bution of cases of developmental defect in various localities have 

 suggested that sanitation and the practical application of hygienic prin- 

 ciples to school life may lessen the frequency of developmental defects and 

 the proportion of mental and physical weakness and mortality co- 

 attendant. 



In conclusion, it has been shown by many examples that detailed 

 examination and report on the children in selected schools have proA-en 

 many points of social and scientific value. 



The Committee desire to be reappointed to continue research in conjunc- 

 tion with the Childhood Society, and ask a grant of 5i. in aid of this work. 



