, Canadian National Conference for Mental
Hygiene.

The Committee further wish to make special mention of the services
rendered by the Secretary, Mr. J. W. Buchanan, whose work has been very
heavy owing to the number of witnesses examined and the extent of ground
covered in a comparatively short time. This would not have been possible
but for the complete arrangements made by Mr. Buchanan, and the ability
and energy which he showed generally in the discharge of his duties left
nothing to be desired.

SECTION 2.--TWO DISTINCT QUESTIONS.

Before proceeding to the subject-matter of the Committee's
investigations and the conclusions arrived at it is necessary to point
out as clearly and emphatically as possible that the questions submitted
to the Committee were entirely separate and distinct from each other. It
is true that a certain proportion of mental defectives show their lack
of self-control in regard to sex instincts and functions as in other
respects. This is particularly the case with mentally defective girls,
and constitutes one of the chief difficulties in dealing with them
satisfactorily. Some of this class find their way into prison on account
of sexual offences, but it is very far from correct to suppose that all
feeble-minded persons are sexual offenders, or that all sexual offenders
are mentally defective. On the contrary, among sexual offenders of the
worst type, those convicted of unnatural offences, are occasionally
found to be persons possessing intellectual and artistic powers above
the average. There is something wrong in their mental, moral, and
emotional balance, as will be pointed out in the proper place, but, as a
rule, it is not the "intelligence quotient" which is at fault.

PART II.--PROBLEM OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED.

SECTION 1.--A MENACE TO MODERN CIVILIZATION.

The Committee are of opinion that the unrestricted multiplication of
feeble-minded members of the community is a most serious menace to the
future welfare and happiness of the Dominion, and it is of the utmost
importance that some means of meeting the peril should be adopted
without delay. The position is the more serious because, while the
feeble-minded are extraordinarily prolific, there is a growing tendency
among the more intellectual classes for the birth-rate to become
restricted.

An American writer, Lothrop Stoddart, in his striking book entitled
"Revolt against Civilization," expresses the fear that the very
found