The following summary of the meeting of the Committee held September 26th, together with an outline of the plans of the survey as they stand at the present moment, is herewith handed to you for your consideration and comment.

The following points were brought out with special emphasis as indicating the most outstanding needs in Vermont as regards the present Survey:

1. The thorough mental and physical examination of sentenced prisoners. 2. The extension of the present effort to examine physically and mentally and in regard to their home conditions and heredity backward children in the schools. 3. The organization of a Mental Hygiene Society in Vermont.

It is felt that the present survey should aim at constructive, or at least preventative measures, not at accumulating information of scientific interest only, thus emphasizing the practical aspect of the study.

Representatives of the state institutions and the Brattleboro Retreat have freely and generously offered the hospitality of their staff quarters to our Field Worker and have also agreed to cooperate by letting us use all their official records. It is expected that the comparison of these records may result in a body of fairly accurate information that will be valuable in the conduct of any campaign that may seem possible in the nature for legislation or other public appeal.

The emphasis being upon constructive or preventative measures, the question resolves itself into “What is the best kind of survey to lead up to such measures?" It has been decided to work first amongst the school children with physical and mental tests, and as far as seems wise a study of the histories will be conducted in three or four carefully selected areas. The Waterbury area, that around Brattleboro, and some more isolated rural section will probably be chosen. There these children are found to belong to families already on record at the state institutions or organizations like the Children's Aid Society, this dovetailing will be studied and we are likely to find ourselves engaged in a fairly thorough investigation of certain more important families from the point of view of subnormal and dependent conditions.

If the economic aspect of the subject seems to be demanding attention we have the promise of cooperation from the Department of Commerce and Economics of the University. They stand ready to ascertain what are the most generally accepted methods of computing the cost per capita for maintenance in a prison or almshouse at any given period, and to apply such a formula to any cases that may be referred to them.

Miss Abbott is now in communication with the superintendents of one or two institutions, and will continue her effort to ascertain what records are available throughout the state and also how closely we can depend upon the accuracy of these records.

A sub‐committee of the Advisory Committee was chosen to see what could be done about the formation of a Mental Hygiene Society. Doctors Dalton, Allen and Stanley were so chosen and this action is being reported to the National Conference of Mental Hygiene Societies.

A most gratifying response has been received from Judge J. E. Weeks in an interview with Miss Abbott and a letter to the Director. It is safe to say that the general impression has been established already that the present survey constitutes an important step in the program of the present state of Vermont.