This is the second edition of a volume originally published in 1965 that was based on the American Medical Association Conference on Mental Retardation held in Chicago, April 1964. Reports were submitted to the conference by 175 experts in the field, who were working in 14 task forces. From this large volume of material, the editorial committee compiled a "distillation of conference thought, presented in a form designed to be most immediately useful to the primary physician."
In the introduction, Dr Richmond cites the statement of purpose for the conference: "The medical profession has a clearly defined responsibility in the early detection of retardation and in planning for and obtaining optimal care for the retarded."
This responsibility represents a considerable dilemma for the primary physician. He is likely to be the only health care professional to see the child in the early developmental stages when the diagnosis may be made.