Official proceedings of the annual meeting: 1923

88

HEALTH

examined confessed their guilt at the time of arrest. The pleas of guilty among the
ex-service men at the state prison and the house of correction were also relatively large,
averaging 75 per cent. Another observation of considerable interest is, with few
exceptions, the feeble-minded all plead guilty.
Economic stress.-By economic stress we mean a situation preceding the criminal
act in which the prisoner was in dire need, away from home and without friends or
through loss of employment, or lack of opportunity for employment, was without funds.
In order to come under this term, the offense committed had to be apparently a true
outcome of the stress and, furthermore, it had to be a theft or similar offense in which
the proceeds or objective was proportional to the need.
Alcoholism.-A total of seventy-five ex-service men, or 25 per cent, are criminals
because of acts directly associated with alcoholism. The crimes in hany instances
were committed during periods of mental confusion. Among those listed as associated
with alcoholism are included the offenses connected with "moonshine traffic." In a
number of cases, especially those at the reformatory, alcoholic indulgence began during
military service.
Drug addictions were surprisingly absent among these ex-service men. Only 2
among the I34 at Waupun and none at the reformatory and the house of correction.
Acknowledgment.-When this survey was started the district office of the United
States Veterans' Bureau at Chicago offered to co-operate and assist in establishing
claims for disability. Representatives of the United States Veterans' Bureau were
present at the survey made both at the reformatory and Waupun. With their assistance, in all, forty-seven claims for disability were started or re-examinations for
increased compensation requested.
Summary of findings.-The following facts were disclosed as the result of a mental
and physical examination made on 290 ex-service men in the penal institutions of
Wisconsin: 25 per cent had physical and mental disabilities of service origin; 55 per
cent were mentally abnormal; 25 per cent were feebleminded; 59 per cent were from
homes that were disrupted during the prisoner's childhood; 19 per cent had served
prison terms before present conviction; 12 per cent had been juvenile delinquents;
62 per cent were guilty of trivial offenses; 69 per cent were guilty of theft; 75 per cent
had pleaded guilty to the charge; 32 per cent were offenses associated with economic
stress; 25 per cent were offenses definitely influenced by alcoholism.
Recommendations.-That a thorough mental and physical examination be made
on all ex-service men in penal institutions; that a thorough mental and physical examination be made, as a matter of routine, upon all persons incarcerated in penal institutions; that in rural states such mental and physical examinations be made through a
medical service of the medical department of a state university if such exists.
SIGNIFICANCE OF INTELLIGENCE IN THE CONSERVATION
OF HEALTH
Robert M. Yerkes, M.D., National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Intelligence probably is more largely responsible than any other quality or factor
in evolution for man's dominant position in nature. Its importance for human progress
continues undiminished. From its effective use, discovery, invention, industrial