The Incidence of Mongolism in the General Population

Abstract

The generalized foetal dysplasia known as mongolism is one of the most frequent causes of severe mental defect. It accounts for something like 5 per cent. of all institutional cases in this country (Tredgold, 1929). The incidence of the condition in the general population is difficult to estimate with accuracy because of the high mortality it carries, but an exact knowledge of the frequency would be useful both for biological and for administrative reasons.