It is generally recognized that provision for feeble-minded young women is more urgent than for feeble-minded young men for the reason that the feeble-minded woman is more prolific than the normal woman, and the feeble minded man is much less likely to contribute to the increase of the defective population. The number of feeble-minded persons in the United States is not known, but It is very large, prob ably there are not less than 250,000 of whom perhaps 75,000 are women of the child-bearing age, of whom less than 10,000 are as yet pro vided for in suitable institutions, leaving 65,000. Provision for this number is by no means im practicable. We are already caring for about 75,000 insane ones.
Epileptic Epilepsy is one of the most dreadful afflictions to which the human race is subject. The disease is obscure and to this day it is very imperfectly understood. The disease may begin at any age, and the early paroxysm is progressive and its progress is usually accompanied by a gradual decay of the mental faculties, taking the form of feeble mindedness or insanity. There is no specific cure. All that can be done is to provide proper food, under medical advice, to provide con genial employment, suitable out-door exercise and recreation. Only a fraction of those afflicted recover—probably not more than 10 per cent.
The epileptic is peculiarly unfortunate be cause he is debarred from many of the ordinary pursuits of life. He cannot be employed on any vehicle. He cannot be a house painter, or a salesman, nor can he work safely about machinery. The disease often makes its victim morose or even dangerous. It is cruelty to both classes to incarcerate them in a hospital for the insane as is often done, or to keep them in an almshouse.
Ohio was the first State to establish a separate institution for epileptics. Several States have followed the example of Ohio. It should be generally adopted, both as a measure of humanity to a most unfortunate and most wretched class, and as a measure of protection to the rest of the community.
Crippled The first institution for crippled children was the New York Hospi tal for Ruptured and Crippled Children. It was established in 1863. In the 28 years from 1863 to 1890, only 5 institutions were estab lished: 2 in New York city, and 3 in Philadel phia. In 1913, the Russell Sage Foundation found 35 institutions devoted to crippled children, including 9 orthopedic hospitals, 14 convalescent hospitals or homes and 12 asylum houses. Many general hospitals have or thopedic departments, and many other institu tions receive and care for convalescent or chronic cripples. Many of these are designed especially for them. The cripples housed in institutions are remarkable for their courage, cheerfulness and optimism. They expect to get well and they endure their sufferings with a fine spirit of philosophy and hopefulness. This spirit is largely due to the influence of the orthopedic surgeons who have built up the beneficent institutions.
State hospital schools for crippled children have been established in Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota and Nebraska. These insti tutions are most important because they reach crippled children in rural districts who other wise would never hear of an orthopedic sur geon. The care of crippled children is very expensive, but is highly economical because it makes productive children of many who otherwise would lead a miserable life of de .
pendence. See CHILDREN, Nem-wren; CHIL