Then gradually, with the unfolding of a philosophy and a technique of helping people in and through their social relationships, a new way of dealing with this ancient and perplexing human failing was developed. This third way involved a more careful analysis of relationships and motives, a greater variety in approach, an increased flexibility in treatment, a new faith, perhaps, in the re-creative powers latent in human nature. But it is unnecessary to enlarge upon a point of view which these pages admirably illustrate. Desertion laws continue to serve a definite purpose, as Miss Colcord makes clear, but no longer are they either the first or the second resort of the skilful probation officer, family case worker, or child protective agent. Just after the Russell Sage Foundation published a treatise on Social Diagnosis two years ago, a number of letters came to the author urging that a volume on the treatment of social maladjustments in individual cases follow. But this second subject is not yet ready for the large general treatise. A topic so new as social case treatment must be developed aspect by aspect, preferably in small, practical volumes each written by a specialist. This is such a volume, and Miss Colcord breaks new ground, moreover, in that her book illustrates the whole present trend of social work as applied to individuals. Grateful acknowledgment should be made to the social case workers who have furnished valuable contributions to the body of data gathered for the present study. Miss Colcord wishes mention made of her especial indebtedness to Miss Betsey Libbey, Miss Helen Wallerstein and Miss Elizabeth Wood of Philadelphia; Mr. C.C. Carstens and Miss Elizabeth Holbrook of Boston; Mrs. A.B. Fox and Mr. J.C. Murphy of Buffalo; Miss Caroline Bedford of Minneapolis; Mr. Stockton Raymond of Columbus; Mrs. Helen Glenn Tyson of Pittsburgh; Mr. Arthur Towne of Brooklyn; Mr. E.J. Cooley, Mr. Charles Zunser, Mr. Hiram Myers, and Miss Mary B. Sayles of New York. Many others not here mentioned were untiring in answering questions and furnishing needed information. MARY E. RICHMOND _Editor of the Social Work Series_ NEW YORK, May, 1919. CONTENTS PAGE I. INTRODUCTION 7 II. WHY DO MEN DESERT THEIR FAMILIES? 17 III. CHANGES OF EMPHASIS IN TREATMENT 50 IV. FINDING THE DESERTING HUSBAND 65 V. FURTHER ITEMS IN THE INVESTIGATION 91 VI. THE DETAILS OF TREATMENT 106 VII. THE DETAILS OF TREATMENT (_Continued_) 125 VIII. THE HOME-STAYING NON-SUPPORTER 149 IX. NEXT STEPS IN CORRECTIVE TREATMENT 164 X. NEXT STEPS IN PREVENTIVE TREATMENT 185 INDEX 201 BROKEN HOMES I INTRODUCTION