4.90 REPORT—1899. 
primary groups, showing their proportion to the compound groups, 
respectively as distributed under ages and sex. 
The primary groups are those containing all cases presenting the 
defect or combination of defects indicated, only. 
The compound groups are those containing all cases presenting the 
defect or combination of defects indicated, alone or in combination. 
Thus: there were 388 boys and 352 girls at all ages who presented 
developmental defects ; of these, 4-380 per cent. of the boys and 2°557 per 
cent. of the girls presented abnormal nerve-signs only, 7.e. without either 
low nutrition or meutal dulness accompanying. Such cases may be found, 
for instance, among children crippled by congenital absence of a hand. 
The main classes of defect are indicated at the left hand of the table 
by symbols :—A. Defect in development of body ; B. Abnormal nerve- 
signs ; C. Low nutrition ; D. Mental dulness. 
The facts shown in the table suggest the need of management and 
care in training stage by stage, with the object of improving each phase 
of mental ability and removing individual disabilities ; children with any 
degree of congenital defect in development usually require medical care 
as to conditions of the ears, throat, and mouth, also as to eyesight and in 
general health culture. 
The abnormal nerve-signs may often be removed one by one in the 
daily practice of physical exercises, and adapted training, thus rendering 
the brain more apt for mental instruction and teaching. 
The investigation made and the facts thus far tabulated have proved 
of much value, as a basis of knowledge of childhood, especially in its sub- 
normal conditions. 
The Committee desire to be reappointed with an addition to their 
number, and a new Chairman elected to act in conjunction with the 
Childhood Society, for the scientific study of the mental and physical 
conditions of children, and ask a grant of 10/. in aid of their work. 
TABLE based on the observation of 1,120 children who appeared to require 
special care and training on physical or mental grownds—Boys 597, Girls’ 
523—showing the proportion of the Primary Groups to the Compound Groups 
respectively. This Table is arranged in four columns, giving the percent- 
ages for children in age-groups and at all ages. The percentages are taken 
on the number in the Compound Group, i.e. all the cases with that class of 
defect. Thus: of all cases with developmental defect (Compound Group) at 
all ages 1:030 per cent. of the boys and 1:990 per cent. of the girls presented 
low nutrition only (Primary Group). 
No. of Cases and 7 years and Ages 8-10 Ages 11 and 
Primary Groups under over All ages ro 
= zi = | 
B. G. B. 5 B. G. B. G. 
No. of cases—A  .| 114 | 146 | 151 26 | 123 80 888 | 352 | Of all cases with Developmental 
defect. 
A. ae hte + | 1°755) 4:110) 3311) 1588) 4°878) 1:282) 3°350| 2°557, Per cent. with no other classof de- 
‘ fect. 
AB . e« «| 4°386} 1°370) 3:311) 1°588} 5:691) 3-842} 4380] 2°557 “ », Abnormal Nerve- 
| signs only. 
AC . «4 «| 1:755| 2°740] 0-662) 0:794|. 0°813| 2°562) 1-030] 1-990 ¥ » Low nutrition only. 
AD 5 . . | 4°386} 2°055} 3°311) 3°960| 8130) 6°410) 5°154| 3-695 a4 » Mental dulnessonly. 
ABC. .  .} 1755] 1:370} 1324) 0000] 0:813) 0:000) 1-288) 0-569 +. » Nerve-signs and 
| Low nutrition 
t only. 
