Mentally Defectives’ Welfare: Urgent Need for an Institution: The annual meeting of the general committee of the Bucks association for the Care of the Mentally Defective has held at the County Hall, Aylesbury on Tuesday, when there were present: Mr. J. M. Knapp (chairman, who presided), the Marquis and Marchioness of Lincolnshire, Mrs. Pinsent (member of the board of control) the Hon. Mrs. James … … An Address: Mrs. Pinsent accepted an invitation to address the meeting, and she expressed thanks to the Association for the valuable work it did. She knew from personal experience, she said, the difficulties that were to be met at every turn; many of them inherent in the nature of the cases with which they had to deal. They often arose from the unstable and excitable condition of the parents of the cases. There were great difficulties owing to defects in the Acts of Parliament under which they worked. There was the ever-present difficulty of obtaining money for the maintenance of the defectives, and there was the final difficulty of obtaining vacancies in any existing institution even for the most urgent cases. In the face of all these difficulties it was really marvellous how the Association persevered and commanded admiration. Before they could cope with the mentally defectives, they must have a farm or colony for every county, or combination of counties. The act of 1913 imposed on the borough and county authorities an obligation to find institutional accommodation, but the intervention of war had rendered many things impossible of accomplishment. Also, while war destroyed many of our best citizens, it left mentally defectives almost untouched. Emphasising the characteristics essential to the successful institutional treatment, Mrs. Pinsent said that with the acquisition of workhouses and other buildings already in existence the Associations looked forward to classification and effective treatment of patients, and better opportunities for training and employment. She appreciated the impossibility almost of building new places or colonies at the present time, but existing buildings could be adapted – whether a fair-sized country house or an empty country workhouse. There were some essentials to be borne in mind. There should be sufficient land in proximity to permit farming and gardening. The minimum amount of land which the Board of Control required for that purpose was 1 acre to every 20 patients. Combined action by local authorities would tend to better classification and economy. About 1 per 1,000 of the population would require care and treatment in a colony. Thus Bucks, with a population of 219,000 would require 220 places. Berks, 193, Oxon, 136, Oxford City about 52, and Reading about 87. All these authorities combined would require 689 places. If five authorities could not combine, two neighbouring authorities might do so, and invite others to send their cases under contract. At the instance of the Marquis of Lincolnshire, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mrs. Pinsent for her Address … …
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Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949