Notes on the Magazines: One of the most important articles in the current number of the Nineteenth Century and After,” is that by Mrs. Hume Pinsent on “Care and Control of the Feeble-minded”. This is a subject of deep concern to many women engaged in philanthropic and public work. Mrs. Hume Pinsent presents strong evidence both of the hereditary character of feeble-mindedness and of the urgent necessity for taking every measure to segregate these persons from the rest of the community. There is a great difficulty here, as in all other human affairs, in drawing a sharp line of demarcation between children who are normal and those who are defective. Mrs. Pinsent observes: “I have seen many doctors examining children, and I do not think any two of them would agree on the point at which a mental defect should be called imbecility; yet on this point hands the fate of the child. Imbecility is an unscientific term, which has never been accurately defined. … … (continues) … “… Mrs. Pinsent’s point is that “one authority should be responsible for the classification of the mentally defective and organization of the care, training, and control necessary for – degree.” Moreover, Mrs. Pinsent desires that the care should be continuous; for, as she explains frankly – and she – the general opinion – “we want to prevent the birth of such people, and the continuous segregation of the mentally defective is the chief means of doing so. ... (continues) …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949