Book Reviews and Abstracts

or Statutory Supervision. In spite of this increase in ascertainment on the previous year, the figure for 1933-34 of 2.65 per 1,000 population of defectives still falls short of the estimated figure given by the findings of the Wood Committee, i.e., 4.52 per 1,000 population. As already mentioned above, the Board reports a decrease in the number of children notified by Local Education Authorities this year. The Board very truly states that this decrease is disturbing. Complete ascertainment must depend largely on the thoroughness of the Local Education Authorities to notify children under Sections 2(2)a and 2(2)b of the Act. Moreover, until the Act is amended to allow for defective children leaving elementary schools at the age of 14 being notified to the Mental Deficiency Authority, it is only by close though informal co-ordination that any continuity of care can be maintained. The Board mentions 28 areas where five or less than five children have been notified by the Education Authority during the year, and six areas in which 110 cases at all have been notified. The Report includes a full table (p. 57) of all areas showing the proportion per 1,000 of population of cases ascertained as subject to be dealt with; cases reported to Local Authoities by the Local Education Authorities and the proportion of defectives receiving institutional care.