Word: defectiveness
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...cured. But as a result of recent scientific developments, many can be prevented. German measles, responsible for the birth of many retarded infants, has been nearly eliminated thanks to a nationwide immunization campaign. PKU's effects can be checked by a special diet if the defect is immediately identified; 43 states now require a PK.U test at birth. Doctors can recognize the chromosomal flaw that causes mongolism and 27 of the genetic quirks known to cause retardation. More important, they can diagnose these in the fetus by amniocentesis. A needle is inserted into the uterus to draw...
That kind of defect, however, accounts for only about 20% of the retarded in the U.S. For the other 80%. who are functionally rather than physically retarded, physicians can rarely find precise causes. A growing number of experts believe that this nonspecific, generally milder form of retardation, the primary symptom of which is poor intellectual performance, is a socioeconomic disease. While genetic, chromosomal and hereditary causes occur with about the same frequency in all racial and economic groups, retardation of unknown origin is nearly ten times more likely to occur among the poor, black and Spanish-speaking...
Ford now is analyzing why its tests failed to reveal the axle defect, with an eye toward possibly revising the test procedures. Motorists can only hope that there is a revision, and that G.M. will follow suit. The annoyance that drivers now feel about recalls will hardly compare with their emotions if they get the idea that they must do a good deal of the test driving on new cars themselves...
...December, for example, Chevrolet whistled back 6.7 million automobiles to treat motor-mount problems. Last week it was Ford Motor Co.'s turn. Ford announced that it was recalling 423,000 '72 Torinos and Montegos-the entire production of those two lines-to correct a rear axle defect. Unusual wearing of the bearings in the rear axle assembly, Ford explained, could cause the axle to separate or disengage from the wheel, or to jam, bringing the car to an abrupt halt. Thus far, 16 such failures have occurred, causing one injury. Ford, still uncertain about the cause...
...defect is not in G.E.'s basic design, but in one of the pacemaker's parts. A subcontractor for one of the unit's circuits changed the cement used in its manufacture, unwittingly choosing one that can transmit electric current. This supplies more power from the built-in battery than is needed and affects the governor on the mechanism...