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make…believe plays in which she engages with her younger sisters seems mixed with her wonderment in regard to sex life。 There is a distinct tendency to day…dreaming。
In reviewing the results of tests the only peculiarities to be noted are a definite weakness displayed in the powers of mental representation and analysis （she failed on Test X； usually readily done at 12 years）； and a rather undue amount of suggestibility and inaccuracy in response to the ‘‘Aussage'' test （Test VI）。 The latter； naturally…to…be…supposed important test in a case where lying was a characteristic； showed a result that belonged to the imaginative； inaccurate； and partially suggestible type。 Many details of the picture were recalled correctly； but a few were manufactured to order； and 4 out of 7 suggestions were accepted。
About the general diagnosis of mentality there could be no doubt； the girl had fair ability； but there had been poor educational advantages on account of extremely defective vision。 No signs of mental aberration were discovered。
Our attempt to try to help Emma decide why she got into so much difficulty resulted in a most convincing discovery of beginnings。 We found a keynote to the situation in asking her about the companionship which the mother had said she had broken up。 It seems that Emma had for a year； quite clandestinely； been familiar with this family。 She apparently now desired to reveal the results of the acquaintance。 Long ago the older sister； at present in a Reform School； boasted of her escapades with boys。 Emma states that she herself never talked of these topics with her mother； who had said that girls who don't do such things should not talk about them。 But Tessie； the younger sister of the delinquent girl； says many bad words about boys。 These words and ideas about them bother Emma much。 They come up in her mind； ‘‘sometimes at night and sometimes in the day。'' She even dreams much about them and about boys。 ‘‘I seen the girls do bad things with boys。 It is in the dream； it was in the house； in the front room on the floor。'' Emma says she never saw it in reality； but Tessie had boys in their front room when she went there； and then came running out when she heard Emma coming。 She wonders just what Tessie does。 Boys never bother Emma； but all these ideas bother her。 ‘‘Then I think that the boys are going to do it to me。'' In school she cannot study for this reason。 ‘‘Sure； when I start to study it comes up。 I just think about what she tells me； Tessie。 She tells me she liked to do these things with boys。''
This little girl in the couple of interviews we had with her gave vent to much expression of all this which had perplexed her； and she really seemed to want help。 She was very willing to have her mother told。 She went on finally to say that the delinquent girl had taught her long ago about masturbation and that she thinks of it every night in bed。 She can give no explanation of why she runs away and why she falsely accused the man。 She says it was not true at all what she said about him。 She thinks she would behave better if she were less bothered about the things which those girls taught her。 Emma says she questioned a young woman relative who did not tell her any more than her mother did。
Regarding her diversions Emma says that she likes reading； especially fairy tales。 She reads mostly Andersen's Fairy Tales。 She enjoys dressing up as a grown lady and playing make…believe。 She particularly likes to go to bed early and lie and imagine things。 She imagines sometimes that she is grown up and married and has her own home and children。
The neglect； through ignorance； of the several genetic features of Emma's case was quite clear。 The mother was made acquainted with the facts； which her little daughter then affirmed to her； and she promised to alter conditions。 We insisted on attention to Emma's eyes and general physical conditions； on removal from neighborhood association with these old companions； on the necessity for motherly confidences； on watchfulness to break up sex habits； and on the development of better mental interests。 Through relatives in the home town it seemed there was some chance to get these remedial measures undertaken。
A year and a half later we can state that a certain number of our suggestions were followed out。 The mother gained a better understanding of the case and there were some； although not enough； environmental changes。 The father's mental condition has been much better； perhaps because he has largely refrained from drink； and consequently family affairs are more stable。 The girl herself is said not to be doing perfectly either in school or home life； but to be vastly improved。 We have obtained no definite statement concerning whether she now lies at all or not； but it is sure that Emma has engaged in no more egregious types of prevarications and in no more false accusations。 Competent observers think the case is fairly promising in its general moral aspects if environmental conditions continue to improve。
… Mental conflict。 Case 14。 Improper sex teachings。 Girl； age 13。 Bad companions。 Home conditions： Lack of understanding and control。 Father alcoholic； insane （？） Defective vision。 Delinquencies： Mentality： False accusations。 Ability fair。 Runaway。 Obtaining money by false representations。 …
CASE 15
Summary： Girl of 16； over a period of some weeks made extreme accusations against several members of her family。 She gave detailed account of sex immorality； alleged drunkenness and thieving； and an attack on her own life。 She had herself； it was found； begun delinquent tendencies。 The family circumstances and her clearly detailed account gave the color of possibility to her accusations； but investigation proved some of them false； and all of a sudden； after maintaining for long a most convincing demeanor； she withdrew her allegations。 Both before and since this episode she has given no marked evidence of being a falsifier。
We were asked to study this case by police officials who thought perhaps the girl was the victim of some delusional state。 She appeared at the police station and informed them her adult brother had been thieving from the place where he worked。 She lived with him。 Investigation by detectives on the strength of her convincingly given details proved his innocence。 When the brother appeared on the scene he said he had been intending to report her on account of her being away from home。 She herself was then held in custody。
We found a girl in very good general physical condition。 Well developed in sex characteristics and a very mature type of face。 Outside of a somewhat enlarged thyroid and moderately defective vision； we found nothing abnormal。 Weight 114 lbs。； height 5 ft。 Notable was her strong features； deep set eyes； high； broad forehea