November 14, 1927.6

Dre Re As Vonderlehr, -

Use Se Public Health Service,
Gare American Conmilate,
Cobh, Irish Free State.

Dear Doctor Vonderlehr: (Through the Director)

I have delayed a little in answering your letter because the regula-
tions for the medical inspection of immigrants are being revised, and I
thought something might be done that would have a bearing on just who
should be called mentally deficient. I have, however, written a mental
section in a form that will probably be accepted, and have made no radical
changes in the paragraph dealing wi th mental deficiency.

After thinking the matter over, I decided that it would be better to
leave the meaning somewhat indefinite so officers could vagy their practice
when it seemed advisable.

The tests you have devised for use at Cobh seem to me to be good, and
I have no doubt that they are better for use in Ireland than the special
list that I had you and some of the others work with here. I also think
that pointe used in grading will give on the average just results. Of
eourse you appreciate that experience is the best guide and you and Drs
Waugh are having experience. I think, however, that arbitraty rating ac-
eording to points will lead into error in this as in any other scale and
that you will find it advisable to consider some modifying factors and
depart from the rigid rule of interpretation when it seems clear that the
rule is not measuring what it is desired to measure, namely, native intelli-
gence. You doubtless also will not apply the rule to quite young children,
who wou ld e expected to succeed as more mature people — with the teste

reen

If by your seale from one to enniihdccsmbait of applicants are found
defective, you may rest assured that it is giving you approximately accurate
results. It seems to me _ that those measuring between 50 and 75 might

be called mentally provided you have in mind that some of these
ren 4 are feeble ere it seems undoubted that an alien is feeble

I would say so regardless of the measure on the saale, because the

 
pen : = ym.
, ?
eRe ns mere aint

b

4 | ~~.

¥

law and regula tions really make mental defeotiveness something other than

| feeble mindedness.

I wish you would let me know about living conditions in Ireland as

 @ompared with the United States; fom instance, conditions about rent,

whether it is desirable to bring household goods, whether there is any
trouble about duty on such things, schooling, whether the sun ever shines |
over there, and, if so, how often. You see when a number of officers
come home next year, I am thinking that it may be necessary for me to go
over.

With kindest regards to you ane Mree Vonderlehr, Tt am
Sineerely yours,

Lawrence Kolb
Surgeon

tice

Respectfully forwarded :

Ge We Meloy
Director —