Mental Retardation: A Study of the Origin and Development of the Clinic for Mentally Retarded Children at New York Medical College, Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospitals New York, New York, 1950 Through 1961
Abstract
Background of the Study. When one hears the words, "Feeble-mindedness, Mental Deficiency or Mental Retardation," what are some of the pictures that comes to mind? This condition has been characterized as a burden to civilization, the basis of social ills and a hindrance to the advancement of the race. This limitation in a person’s ability to function has been considered to be at the root of crime, delinquency, degeneracy, poverty, vagrancy, immorality and the gamut of the social "evils". These persons who have once been adjudged a threat to society are currently being considered more of an asset, as a result of the development of interest and understanding which has helped to provide community services for their betterment. In the early time of history, only the bizzare cases of mental retardation were acknowledged. The Spartans, Greeks and Romans are believed to have harshly treated their severely retarded by casting them in rivers or leaving them to perish on mountain sides. At this time, more of the people lived in a rural area, with less complicated demands for survival, thus the standard of mental competency as compared to an urban area was subsequently lower and many persons went undetected as mental retardates.
Subject Area
Mental health|Public health|Social work
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Frank Paul, "Mental Retardation: A Study of the Origin and Development of the Clinic for Mentally Retarded Children at New York Medical College, Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospitals New York, New York, 1950 Through 1961" (1962). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30670788.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30670788
