TREASURY DEPARTMENT

UNITED STATES

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
American Consulate,
Bremen, Germany
July 16, 1930

 

OFFICE OF |
MEDICAL OFFICER IN CHARGE

Dear Doctor Kolb,

I have been curious if, by any chance, your work
will in the next few months, bring you to Bremen to give us
general instructions and advice on our mental examinations?
Anyway, I should like to ask your advice on the question of the
application of the mental examinations *° dnon-quota cases.

My impression is that the intent of the law is not toseparate
families, if possible, and perhaps to b i on these cases
than the quota cases; but of course the law does not state this.

I have one case which probably best illustrates
this, which I will outline briefly. The case is that of a
housewife, with a four year old daughter, who is apparently OK.
The woman, aged about 84, was rejected twice last year, once
by Dr. Archer, again by us, as a quota case. She returns now,
her husband in the meantime has become an American Gitizen, so
she is entitled to non-quota status. |

She is "a liitle bit feebleminded". Considering
that all of the aliens here have had 8 years in school, we
hold them all to about the ten year level. She gives the
impression of mental age of about nine years to most of the
Terman tests. For example, her writing is very awkward, with
many mistakes, her reading about as bad. (Judging from this
letter, however, that may hot be a very satisfactory criterion)
Unable to say the months backward on frequent repitition.
The only test which she does satisfactorily, are the Ferguson
Form Boards, and these the does all in record time.

Her employer states that she can do the work of
amaid very well. According to my personal judgment, I would
consider that she could run her household reasonably well for
her station in life, and I doubt very much that she would ever
be a material social problem. Am I justified in considering
that case on this basis? Perhaps you can tell me, whether
other stations are more lenient, or perhaps less critical on
a case of this kind than on the rezular quota cases; so that

our action might be comparable.

I suppose in general your experiences there are
not much different from ours; about the same weather, same
routine, and other similar problems of adjustments to make.

We are nicely settled and very comfortable. The youngster is
going to to the German public school, and doing fairly well in

the third grade. I find total necessary living expenses
considerably higher than in the States. If I were grading the job
I think I could say; Socially,-fair, Eenomically-fair,
Educationally-fair, Professionally-poor, financially--zero; or
something like that. Qur present quota is only about 200 per
month, so we are not so very busy. The P.HS. Reports have
become to me quite a weekly circular of information. I see
several bills of interest to the Service have been passed
recently. Am I to conelude that we are contributing something
by our presence here? One bill I see carries the provision
that officers may be detailed to certain institutions for
special study. Do you suppose the idea back of this is that
officers after théér time here, may be reeducated after thar
return in public health matters? (As my own typist and
stenographer, please excuse mistakes) e

The family are all well. Mrs Huber joins me in
extending best wishes to you and to Mrs Kolb, and hoping that

you are enjoying your stay.

ES heted