The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-06-11
LAWS OF OHIO.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.
A " ACT

/ =
To provide for the uniform government and
better regulation of the Luiiatic AsyIums of
the State, and the care of Idiots and the
! Insane.
SECTION l. Be it enacted By the General As-
ssmbly Of the State Of Ohio, That the three
lunatic asylums located in Newburgb, Coum-
bus and Dayton, shall hereafter be known as,
and respectively be called, the Northern Ohio
Lunatic Asylum, the Central Ohio Lunatic
Asylum, and the Southern Ohio Lunatic Asy-
lum. The said institutions shall be placed
under the charge of separate boards of trustees,
to be appointed under this act. &iAfas-i
/ SECTION 2. The following counties shall
compose the northern district, which shall be
attached to the northern asylum, to wit: Will
liams, Fulton, Seneca, Wood Ottowa, Sandus-
I ky, Lucas, Erie, Huron, Loran, Medina, Wavne,
/ Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, Lake, Geauga, Port
age. Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and CO.
4 lumbiana. sfS
/ The following counties shall compose the
central district, and be attached TO the central
asylum, to wit: Defiance, Paulding, Van Vert,
Mercer, Shelby, Auglaize, Allen, Putnam, Hen
ry, Hancock Hardin, Logan, Champaign, High
/ land, Fayette, Madison, Union Marion, Wyan-
! dot, Crawford, Morrow, Delaware, Franklin,
Pickaway, Ross, Pike, Jackson, Vinton, Hook
ing, Fairfield, Lawrence, Licking, Knox, Rich
land, Ashland, Holmes, Coshooton, Muskingum,
Perry, Morgan, Athens, Meigs, Gallia, Wash
ington, Noble Guernsey, Tuscarawas, Carroll,
Harrison, Jefferson Belmont and Monroe.
The following counties shall compose the
southern district, and be attached to the south
ern asylum, to w.t. Scioto, Adams, Brown, Cler
mont, Clinton, Greene, Clark, Warren, Mont
gomery, Miami, Hamilton, Butler, Preble and
Darke
If, at any time either of said asylums cam
i,nt lnSn fta of Sfrt
to which it is attached, said patients may be
transferred to the asylum of either of the 9TH
er districts, which may. at the time, have room
for said patients. Said transfer to be made
with the consent of the resident trustees of
the two asylums. $50 5-si s- ees
SECTION 3. That each board of trustees shall
consist of six persons. Two of the northern
board shall reside in the township of New
burgh; two of the central board shall reside in
the city of Columbus, and two of the southern
board shall reside in the city of Dayton, and
the others within the districts attached to the
/ respective asylums. e sssl = - 4-t 1s.s
I The said boards shall be appointed within
thirty days after the passage of this act. The
i two first named shall serve for two years, the
second two named shall serve for four years,
and the third two named shall serve for six
j years, and as their terms shall expire, their
! Successors shall be appointed for the term OF
six years. All vacancies occurring by death
or otherwise, shall be fillea by appointment OF
the Governor, until the meeting of the General
Assembly, and until their successors are ap-
pointed and qualified.
SECTION 4. The trustees, before entering
4 upon the duties of their Office, shall take and
subscribe an oath or affirmation to support the
constitution of the United States and of this
State, and also faithfully to discharge the du-
ties required of them by the provisions of this
act which duties they shall perform gratuitous-
ly, provided, they shall have their necessary
expenses paid, during the time they are actu-
ally engaged in the discharge of their official
duties, such payment to be made out OF the
! State treasury upon warrant of the Auditor
of State. They shall meet within thirty days
after their appointment, at their respective
! institutions, ard elect president, who shall
preside at their meetings. - IL
SECrioN 5. The boards of trustees shall ap,
point medical superintendent for each OF the
asylunis, ana on the nomination of said super
intendent, a steward and natron, and such
j assistant physicians as may be necessary, who
shall be styled the resident officers of the in
4 stitutioas; said trustees shall fix all salaries
not otherwise determined by law. They shall
also, in connection with the superintendent,
i prescribe rules, regulations and bylaws, for
the government of their respective institutions.
asylums shall have but one assistant phy sician
Teach.
| SECTION 6. 1t shall be the duty Of onesof
more of each board Of trustees 10 visit, their
respective institutions monthly, and all, or
; majority of them quarterly.k andE At ssaid
monthly visits they shall, with the sprer;n-
tendent examine the accounts Of the steward
and certify their approval or otherwise, on the
page with his monthly balances. s,4s,sgx ...Ig
+ SECTION Z. The board of trustees shall make
record of their proceedings. at all meetings
in book to be ke for the purpose, and at
their annual meeting shall make report tc
the governor, of the condition ana wants Of the
asylums, which shall be accompanied by full
, and accurate reports of the superintendents
, and detailed account Of al the moneys re'
ceived and discussed by the steward fYs-
SECTION 6. The boards of trustees shall
hold their annual meetings on the first Tues
day Of November in each year, st their respeo
tive Institutions. Special meetings for the ap.
pointlnent of resident o.ficers or for the trans
5 action of general business, shall be held upor
the written request of the president or two
members of the board, of which ten days no
, tice shall be given to each member in writing
by the president, stating the object for which
Y the meeting is called
: SECTION 8. The said boards Of trustees may
at pleasure. remove any of the resident officers
of their respective institutions, except the So
, perintendent, and they may remove the super
, in.endent alsu for incompetency, gross neglect
or refusal to discharge the duties devoivins
6 upon them, or for any misconduct which nigh
: render it improper for him longer TO continu'
. at the head Of the institution, and may direc
s the discharge of patient when they shal
deem it expedient. 4Y ss
! SECTION 10. No trustee or any officer of til,
: Institutions shall hereafter be, either directly
or indirectly interested in the purchase of build
: ing material. or any srticle of furni ure O
, supply, for the use of any Of the said asy
l luns.
sccrIoS II. No member Of any board 0
trustees shall hereafter b.. eligible to the ofhc
q of superintendent of any of said asylums
4 during the term for which he was appointed
: nor within one year after his term shall hav'
expired.
Ss'crsoS Il. Tho superintendent of each Q
: said institutions shall be = physician Of &C
I knowlodgej skill ani abb " IN his profession
: lie shall be the chief executive officer OF tn,
asylum, and shall hold his office for the tern
of six years, unless sooner removed by tn,
l t,oa aF tr,rf lad for in yaip