The weak-minded criminals of the type which we have indicated are, Dr. Smalley tells us, for the most part recidivists. Beginning their penal career at a relatively early age, generally about the period of adolescence, when they are forced to enter on the struggle for existence for which they are so heavily handicapped by their defective organisation, they continue through the rest of their lives to oscillate between the prison, the asylum, and the workhouse, with brief intervals of freedom, during which they can be more actively noxious. Ordinarily the offences which they commit are of a relatively trivial character, being indeed, very often rather sins of social omission than acts really meriting the name of crime. This general rule, however, is subject to many and grave exceptions. The feebleness of mind which renders these defectives incapable of sustained effort and of due adaptation to environment drives them to parasitic ways of life, while it involves a lack of self-control which leaves their conduct at the mercy of every casual impulse of unusual intensity. An out-burst of lust will provoke them to rape or bestiality, or an exaggerated sense of injury aroused by some trivial incident will impel them to wreak their vengeance in murder or arson.

The number of the criminal defectives of this lowest class is not, it would appear from the available records, very large. The official figures for the last three years put it at 1090, and this would probably include some instances in which the same individual was counted more than once. When it is further borne in mind that a not inconsiderable share of this total is made up of cases of senile and alcoholic dementia and other forms of enfeeblement which are rather inert and helpless than actively mischievous, it will be seen that the group may be reduced to even more moderate proportions. On this fact of their relatively small number, taken in conjunction with the extent and variety of their anti-social activities, Dr. Smalley is able to found a convincing argument in favour of dealing with these weak-minded offenders on special lines. The expense that would be incurred by their permanent detention in a suitable institution would, he points out, be covered, at least in part, by the saving of the cost now involved in repeatedly prosecuting them and maintaining them in prison. Moreover, it is possible that under a course of continuous and appropriate training which would develop whatever manual aptitudes they possess - and in many cases these aptitudes are considerable - they could be made to contribute in some measure to their own support. In any circumstances there can be no question as to the advantage that would accrue to the community from the substitution of such a scheme as Dr. Smalley suggests for the present system, which is not only expensive and cumbrous but which falls completely to secure what should be its first aim, the adequate protection of society.