The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-04-18
STATE LAW S.
AN ACT concerning the State I.u,.f;,
Hospital.

]
! Hospital.
Sec. ]. Be IL enacted, dc, That the oovsr,.
ment of the State Lunstic Hospital at Worcss,a,
shall be vested in Board of five Trustee. ,nd
the Governor is hereby authorized to nominate
and by and with the advice and consent of ,ha
Council to appoint aud commission Eve discree,
persons, whose duty il shall be to take charge nj
the general interests of the Institution and to see
that its affairs are conducted according to the re-
quirements of the Legislature and the by-Iaws and
regulations which the Trustees IRE hereby author.
lied to establish from time to time for the inter
nal government and economy of the Institution.
The Trustees shall appoint a Superintendent, who
shall always be physician, constantly resident at
the Hospital; and Treasurer, who shall give
bonds in such sum, and with such sureties, as the
Trustees shall judge proper, for the faithful dis.
charge Of his duties. They shall also appoint. or
make provision in the bylaws for appointing. such
other officers as, In the opinion of the Board may
be necessary Tor conducting efficiently and eco
nomicaily the business of the Institution. The
salaries of all :he officers shall be determined by
the Trustees, subject to approval by the Governor
and Council. And the appointment of all officers
BY the Trustees shall be made in such manner,
WIN sncn restrictions and for such periods time
as the bylaws may provide
Sec. 2. Be 1t further enacted, That there shall
be regular and thorough vsitations of the HosoitaI
once in each month, by one or more of the Trus
tees; s,em-annnually, BY majority of them; and
annually, y me shole Board At each visitation
the Institution, to be presented to the Board Al The
annual meeting and visitation. which shall +. ~
the month of December; at which time fun ,nd
detailed report shall be made to be laid before the
Governor and Council, during the first week Of the
session of the Legislature for the use of the vow
eminent, exhibiting particular statement of The
condition Of the Hospital and of all its concerns
The Treasurer shah also at the same time present
TO the Governor and Council his annual report of
the finances of the Institution
Sec. g. BE II further pnncfeI Tb,t =.
the Hospital shall be prepared for the reception of
the insane, and that fact shall be made nubIc hv
proclamation of the Governor of the Common.
wealth. all orders, DEGREES, and sentences for the
confinement of any lunatic in any gaol or house of
correction within the Commonwealth. thereaftey,o
De made by any Court or any Judicial officers, BY
virtue OF the statutes Of one thousand seven hun.
dred and ninety sevea, chapter sxty-second and
oil one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, chapter
twenty eighth, shall De so far modified that ali .ncb
lunatcs shall thereafter be committed 10 the cnst
dy OF the superintendent of the Hospital at Wor-
cester; and all lunatcs who, at the time When
such proclamation shall be made shall be confned
IN any gae or house of correction under any order,
aeelee, or sentence OF any Court, any Judicial
nicers, by virtue of the statutes above mentioned
shall, as soon as may be practicable be removed to
sai9 hospital under the direction of the Mayor aud
Aldermen OF the City Of Boston or of the Comfy
commissioners OF the several Counties of the Com
nohMeai'h, at the expense of said City and Coun-
keeper OF any gaol, and master of a house of cor
rection, from which any lunatic shall be removed
to said Hospital by force of the provisions Of this
act, 10 transmit with such lunatic statement in
smI'lhg Oh all such facts connected with his con-
lnement, and the cause thereof and the length of
lime ne has been confined as NAV be in his power
sec T. lie 1t further enacted, That the Board,
u Trustees shall possess the same powers which
ne keepers Of gaols and houses of correction do
low possess by law, against delinquent towns or
N n1rh fo he
hose Committed TO the Hospital, by virtue Of the
ied 'o
sec. o. BE IT, further enacted, That Town PAU
'er luhatics may be admitted to the Hospital for
UNI IN no case exceeding the actual expense incur
ed in their support And as bounty unon br.
name efforts for the prompt relief of poor patients
ecenliy attacked by insanity, the Trustees are
,ereoy authorized to receive such patients iu their
ilscfe'ion' Tor sum less than the actual cost of
heir support. -
be present, either of the Justices of the Su-
preme Judicial Court, and of the Court of Com
mon Pleas at any term Of said Courts holden with
IN and for the County Of Worcester, may discharge
rom confinement any lunatic committed to the
Hospital, by Judicial authority, after the cause Of
such confinement shall have ceased to exist, appli-
cation being made therefor in writing.
Sec. Z. BE it further enacted, That no keeper of
my gaol house ofcorrection shall hereafter make
| private contract for the custody and support of
my town pauper lunatic lunatics within the
county buildings, without the consent and approba-
ion in writing Of the Mayor and Aldermen Of the
City of Boston or of the County Commissioners of
he respective Counties, under penalty of not less
han one hundred dollars, to be recovered by in
lictment in any Court of competent jurisdiction.
or the use of the Commonwealth.
Sec. s. BE 1t further enacted, That afterthe first
rear, two Trustees shall be appointed annually,
md for that purpose the places of the two senior
trustees, as they stand arranged in their commits
sisn, shall be annually vacated. And from the
time when the Institution shall be completely or
ganized, the Trustees shall receive no compensa-
tion except tor the actual expenses of the vista.
tiuns.
Sec. 9. Be ii further enacted, That the Board of
Trustees, for the time being, may receive any
grants and devises of lands and enements and any
donations and be uests of money, in trust for the
Commonwealth, to be used and improved for the
maintenance Of insane persons, and for the benefit
of the Institution.
Approved by the Governor, March "a, 1924.