U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
CHILDREN'S BUREAU, Washington, March 25, 1919.
SIR: I transmit herewith a report on mental defect in a rural county, the result of a study made through the collaboration of the United States Public Health Service and the Children's Bureau. Reports on a county in the same State containing a large urban population have already been published by the Public Health Service and the Children's Bureau.
This report demonstrates the importance of medical and psychological examinations combined with social investigations in a study of the prevalence of mental defect. The seriousness of the problem in rural communities is indicated by the findings, which confirm the evidence as to the individual hardship and the injury to society caused by the lack of proper care for the mentally defective. The study emphasizes the necessity for an adequate program including not only institutional provision for those requiring custodial care but, equally important, the development of facilities for the special training and the proper protection of defective individuals who can safely remain in the community.
The examinations to determine mentality were made by Walter L. Treadway, Passed Assistant Surgeon of the United States Public Health Service, who prepared the section of the report entitled "Prevalence of Mental Defect." The social investigations of children found to be mentally defective were made by Miss Ethel M. Springer and Miss Alice M. Hill of the Children's Bureau. The introduction and the section entitled "Social Study of Mentally Defective Children" were prepared by Miss Emma O. Lundberg, assisted by Miss Katharine F. Lenroot and the agents who made the social investigations. Respectfully submitted.
Hon. W. B. WILSON,
Secretary of Labor.