698 TRANSACTIONS OF RKCTTON I. 



largest; the rates for deaths in infancy and still-l>irths heing forrespoiidingly 



Insanity occurred in the family histories of 15 of the children. There was 

 only one case of an insane parent (a father). In 11 insanity was found in the 

 grandparents, eight of these being on the paternal side. 



Mental Deficiency. — Other cases of mental deficiency were found in 30 of 

 the histories. In 19 cases two or more defectives appeared in the same 

 fraternity, and in 17 one or other of the parents was mentally defective. 



EpUepsy was fonnd in the pedigrees of nine cases. 



Alcoholism. — It is difficult in any way to measure the proportion of alcoholism 

 among these, as compared with normal families, as it is obvious that they are 

 more easily affected by drink. But in a large proportion of the cases the parents 

 were such heavy drinkers that the mental defect was probably intensified. In 

 one case (which it seemed probable was a case of retarded development) no other 

 cause for the defect was observed. 



Tuberculosis was very prevalent. The term ' consumption ' is so generally 

 and inaccurately used among the people that it would be \iseless to base any 

 statement on the frequent 'died of consumption' reported. It is, however, 

 apiparent that these families are very liable to tuberculosis. 



Throughout the whole of the pedigrees it was noticeable that both physic.ally 

 and mentally the general standard was 'below ])ar.' In many of the families 

 there were members who could not strictly be termed ' defective,' yet were not 

 by any means individuals of average health and ability. Such families cannot 

 be compared in mental and bodily vigour with more normal stocks. They are 

 wanting in initiative and are often inert and thriftless ; the men low-wage-earners, 

 the women poor housewives ; and they tend mentally and physically to be unfit 

 to keep their place in the struggle for existence. 



This tvpe of mental deficiency appears to be more intensified in Haggerston 

 than in the surrounding districts, which is due no doubt to the fact that it is 

 a neighbourhood into which numbers of casuals, hawkers, part-time workers, 

 and hangers-on of more pro.?perous trades tend to drift — classes of the community 

 in which it is not surprising to find a lack of mental and physical stamina. 



3. Pcrsevcmtioii. By Ja,. Wynn Jones. 



The meaning of the term Perseveration, with special regard to the results 

 of Miiller and Pilzecker, Heymans and Wiersma, Heymans and Brugmanns, 

 Culler. Foster, Lankes, Webb. 



Various aspects; e.g., 



The perseveration of ideas. Should this be distinguished from association 

 of ideas? 



Sensory and motor perseveration. 



Persoveration-qualities of character. 



Is Perseveration a general factor, comparable with General Intelligence ? 



Correlation with Intelligence. 



Methods of Measurement. 



1. Directly by noting the strength of the a fte'r- effect and the time for which it 



lasts. 



2. By finding the degi'e-e of hindrance which the perseverating effect of a past 



mental activity causes to a new one of the same kind. 



Own Experiments. 



(a) Mass-tests. 



(1) 'it test.* 



(2) P S test. 



(3) Backward-stroke test. 



(4) Mirror-image test. 



(b) Indiridval Tests. 



(1) Natural rate of tapping. 

 (2) After-images test. 

 f3) After-effect of seen movement. 

 (4) Pressure after-effect. 



