[Report 1934] / Medical Officer of Health, Wiltshire County Council.

  • Wiltshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1934
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1934] / Medical Officer of Health, Wiltshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/88 (page 26)
    Mental Defectives in Pewsey Colony : Number of patients treated . ,, attendances ,, extractions ,, fillings ,, other operations ,, dentures provided ,, dentures repaired ,, half-days at above Mental Defectives under Guardianship and on Licence :—- Number of patients treated . ,, attendances ,, extractions ,, dentures provided 118 121 154 29 19 12 11 15 65 1 Juvenile Occupation Centres. The Wilts Voluntary Association for Mental Welfare has established three Occupation Centres for the lower-grade children in various parts of the County, one each at Salisbury, Swindon, and Trowbridge. These Centres continued to fulfil their object, and it should be mentioned that by attendance institutional treatment has been delayed in some cases for several years. The Chippenham Occupation Centre was closed during the year, but it is hoped that when a larger number of suitable children are available in that district it will be re-opened. Adult Occupation Centre. An interesting innovation of the Voluntary Association was to experiment with the opening of an Occupation Centre at Trowbridge, organised by members of the local branch of Toe H, for lads over school age. The “Club,” as it is popularly known, was opened during the summer months on one evening each week, and although it was difficult to persuade many lads to attend during the summer evenings, the increased attendance at the end of the year proved its popularity. Dr. Monnmgton, as part-time Physician for Nervous Disorders, was called in to assist m the diagnosis of seven difficult cases. On one occasion Dr. Monnington attended at the Police Court to give evidence. The Police Authorities have continued to communicate with me in cases of all school children brought before the Magistrates with a view to ascertaining whether any evidence is available from medical inspection records as to the mental or other condition of the offenders, which should be considered in determining the necessity of punishment as opposed to other alternatives. This scheme should secure safeguards for the undeveloped and weak-minded child, which are not possible without special knowledge unobtainable through police means alone. The police made application for information in regard to 28 boys and two girls, but none was found to be suffering from any defect which should influence the decision of the Magistrates.