ABSTRACT
In an attempt at comprehensiveness, various methods were employed in order to discover as many as possible of the cases of mental illness in the parish. All cases which were active at any time during the year ending with the census day (29 February 1960) were recorded. Most cases were encountered during the routine of the practice, but reference was made to the District Nursing Officer of the parish, and to the Medical Officer of Health and the Educational Psychologist of the county in order to confirm the list of defective and backward children. Likewise, communication with the medical superintendent of the mental hospital serving the area confirmed the list of those of the community who were resident there during all or part of the year. Some alcoholics were not encountered professionally during the year, but the continuance of their previously known addiction was observed en passant. Finally, the practice records were scrutinized to discover cases seen by the holiday locum and the trainee assistant.
