B.—8".

The case is different in regard to " imbeciles," who are capable of only the smallest amount even of practical education, and who will need help and supervision after they reach the age of maturity perhaps as much as before it, for they are children mentally all their lives long. Most of them might be left in the care of their friends but for the very real and serious danger that would thereby ensue, namely, the birth of children who would perpetuate in our midst a race of degenerates. Unless society is prepared to take surgical precautions for preventing such a result its interests demand separate homes for those thus afflicted throughout life ; at such homes they might, by open-air pursuits, enjoy a fairly happy existence without being a menace to human progress. The " idiots," I think, should be treated in special homes attached to the institutions intended for the treatment of mental diseases. Epilepsy may be associated with any of the above classes of mentally deficient cases, and is very frequently associated, especially in girls, with cases of moral degeneracy, to which I shall presently refer. In some cases the epileptic symptoms are so slight and infrequent that separate provision need not be made; but in cases where the epilepsy is more pronounced in type, often without any other obvious mental defect, special provision should certainly be made. Such individuals should not be put into the same homes as "defectives," as those of both classes will suffer thereby ; nor with " imbeciles," as the treatment of the epileptics would certainly be rendered very difficult under such conditions. Pronounced cases of epilepsy, especially if accompanied by sexual weakness or degeneracy, should not, I consider, be released at the age of twentyone, at which the industrial schools cease to have control of them ; it is just then that the sexual instincts would make the danger to society greatest. It would appear to be necessary to make some provision for the segregation of such individuals or for rendering them harmless, unless human society is to be for ever liable to these degenerating influences in their full degree. The Medical Officer of Burnham and Te Oranga has given much thought to these questions, and has expressed in his report some of the conclusions to which he has been led by his observations. He points out with truth that some of the cases of moral degeneracy are those of individuals committed to the school whose low moral instincts, strong passions, and vicious habits will without doubt render them dangers to society as soon as the time comes for release. The cure is in many cases perfectly obvious ; but, as the law exists at present, the cure cannot be undertaken except it can be shown beyond doubt that the life or reason of the individual is at stake. It has been suggested that an alternative might be found in the creation of an island community to which such individuals might belong. Surely humanitarian motives, so often urged against the adoption of the true cure, would forbid the deliberate formation of a colony of human wild beasts. The question no doubt is a very difficult one, and it would be very easy to exaggerate the number of bad cases that really exist. It appears to me, however, to be the truest kind of courage to face the problem fairly, and, after due investigation by experts, not to shrink from applying whatever remedy medical science and sober clear-headed philanthropy may decide to be the best. Cases cited by the Inspector-General of Asylums in his report of a few years ago showed the extent to which one family of imbeciles may injuriously affect the community. It needs no apology to quote again one of the cases included in that report, more especially as facts coming recently under the notice of the industrial-school branch of this Department have added considerably to the force of the lessons to be derived therefrom. The case will be most clearly appreciated perhaps if the facts are presented in tabular form :— Family History of a " Defective " Case. J. A., admitted to Mount View Asylum, 24th May, 1897. Dr. France : She appears imbecile, but without delusions. " Natural imbecility." Dr. Fell: Stupid idiotic expression. Baby one month old. Age between thirty and forty. Dr. Hassell: Suffering from dementia (lactational). J. A. (husband), labourer, Johnsonville; aged 69. Average earnings, 15s. a week; at present gets 4s. a day when in work. Six children, — M. J. A., aged 12 years A. A.', '.'.'. '.'.'. '.'.'. '.'.'. '''[ M [ / hi / dr f «™ , said to W. T. A , aged 5 years be m industrial schools. V. A. A., aged 3 years ... ... ... .... Baby born April., 1897. This baby was put out to nurse by the Hutt County Council. Sister of J. A. (the wife), P. E., in Salvation Army Home. There are also two brothers, but their Christian names and addresses cannot be ascertained. " The whole of the relatives of J. A." [the wife] " were partly imbecile, always in a helpless condition and state of destitution, and have been for years supported partly by charity of neighbours and help from the Charitable Aid Boards" (police report). J. A. (the husband) wishes to get admission into some " old men's home." (An Act passed in Connecticut prohibits, under penalty of three years' imprisonment, the intermarriage, where the woman is under forty-five, of a man and woman either of whom is epileptic, imbecile, or feeble-minded, or the cohabitation of a man with any female under forty-five (not being his lawful wife) who is thus afflicted). The above information was collected some years ago by the Inspector-General of Asylums. The following notes, arranged genealogically by the Education Department, show the development of the case up to the present time.

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