THE PROPAGATION OF THE UNFIT [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your issue of the 9th inst., Mr. F. J. White of the National Society for Lunacy Law Reform says " It is of vital importance to know what is meant by the term mental deficiency." This knowledge may be gained by perusal of the recently published (Brit. Med. Journal, June 28th, 1932) Report of the Mental Deficiency Committee, appointed by the Council of the British Medical Association. Their statement is as follows :
" The Committee in accepting the legal definition of Mental Deficiency as a condition of arrested or incomplete development of mind existing before the age of eighteen years, whether arising from inherent causes or induced by disease or injury,' is satisfied that, in the present state of our knowledge, this condition is essentially due to the fact that the higher cerebral neurons are insufficient in number and/or inadequately developed. Mental deficiency is thus incurable, but as a result of training and other measures, increase of the patient's efficiency may result in certain cases both of the primary and secondary forms."
Perhaps this definition may lead your correspondent to modify his opinion of
" eases where backwardness or lack of scholarly attainments has been regarded as mental deficiency without justification."
Meadowside, Burgess Hill, Sussex.
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