Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-05-14
LAWS OF OHIO.
PUBLISHED By AUTHORITY.
No. I'll AN ACT

No. r.. AN ACT
To provide for the uniform government and better reg
ulation Of the Lunatic Asylums Of the State, and tn
care Of idiots and the Insane.
SECTION L. Be AZ enacted By TIE General -7ssemBK
ofthe State Of Ohio, That the three lunatic asylums 10
Gated in Newturgh, Columbus and Dayton, shall here
after he known as. and respectively be called, ih'
Northern Ohio Lunatic Asylum, the Central Ohio Luna
tic Asylum, and the Southern Ohio Lrnatic Asylum
The said institutions shall Ice placed under the charge
Of separate boards Of Trustees, to lie appointed under
this act.
sEcT1oxe .. The following counties shall compose the
northern district, which shall be attached to the north
/ crn asylum, TO wit: Williams, Fulton, Seneca, Wood
0ttowa, Sandusky, Lucas, Erie, Huron, Lorain. Medi
IA, Wayne. Cuyahoca, Summit, Stark, Lake, Geausa
Portage, Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahouing and CoIum.
biana-
The following counties shall compose the central dis,
trict, and be attached to the central asylum, TO wit: De.
fance, %Pauldins, Van Vert, Mercer, Shelby, Auelaize,
Allen, Putnam. Henry, Hancock. Hardin, Logan,
[ Champaign, Highland. Fayette, Madison. Union, Mari.
on, Wyandot. Crawford, Morrow, Delaware, franklin.
Pickaway, Ross, Pike, Jackson, Ninton, Hooking,
Fairfield, Lawrence, Licking, Knox, Rchland. Ash.
land, Holmes, CoshOctOn. Muskingum, Perry, Morgan,
Athens, Meigs, GAllia, Washington. Noble. Guernsey
Tusearawas, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Belmont and
Monroe.
The following counties shall compose the sou hern
district ard lie attached to the southern asylum. to wit:
SciotO, Adams, Brown. ClermOnt, Clinton, Greene.
Clark, Warren, Montgomery, Miami, Hamilton, Butler,
Preble and Darke.
II. at any time, either of said asylums cannot accom-.
moiate the patients of the district TO which it is attach
ed, said patients may lie transferred TO the asylum OF
either of the other districts, which may, at the time.
have room for said patients. Said transfer to he made
with the consent Of the resident trustees of the two
asyldms.
SECTION ?. That each board of trustees shall COZ sist
Of six persons. Two Of the northern board shall reside
in the township Of Newburgh; 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 respect
i've asyiums.
The said DO rrds shall be appointed within thirty days
after the passage of this act. The two first named shall
Sarra g. - ,aarz Ia gacond two uana1 gha1I sarpa
for four years, snd the third two named shall serve for
six years, anda their terms shall expire, their success
ors shall be appointed for the term Of six years. All
vacancies occurring by death or otherwise. shall be
filled by appointment Of the Governor, until the meet
ing Of the General Assembly, and until their successors
az appointed and purified.
SEcTsoS 4. The trustees, before entering 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 duties required Of them by the provisions OF this act
which duties they shall perform gratuitOUsly, provided,
they shall have their necessary expenses paid. during
the time they are actually engaged IN the discharge OF
their official duties, such payment to be made out Of the
State treasury upon a warrant Of the Auditor of State.
They shall meet within thirty days after their appoint
ment, al their respective institutions, and elect u presi-
dent. who shall preside at their meetings.
SECTION 5. The boards Of trustees shall appoint 4
medical superintendent for each Of the asylums, and
on the nomination Of said superintendent a steward
and matron, and such assistant physicians as may be
necessary, who shall be styled the resident officers of
the institutions; said trustees shall fix all salaries not
otherwise determined by law. They shall also in con-
nection with the superintendent, prescribe rules, reg
ulations and bylaws, for the government Of their re-
spective institutions. Provided. that the northern and
southern asylums shall have hut one assistant physi-
clan each.
SECTION 6. It shall he the duty Of one or more of
each board Of trustees to visit their respective institu-
tions monthly, and all, or a majority Of them quarterly
and at said monthly visits they shall with the super
iutendent. examine the accounts Of the steward. and
certify their approval OF otherwise, on the page with
his monthly balances.
SECTION :. The board Of trustees shall make record
- n - -. l.
kept for the purpose, and at their annual meeting shall
make 4 report TO the governor of the condition and
wants Of the asylums, which shall be accompanied by
full and accurate reports OF the superintendent. and
a detailed account OF all the moneys receiveland dis
bursed by the steward-
SECTION s. The boards Of trustees shall hold their
annual meetings on the first Tuesday of November in
each year, at their respective institutions. Special
meetings for the appointment Of resident officers, or |
for the transaction OF general business, shall be held
upon the written request of the president or two mem
bers of the board, of which ten DAYS notice shall he |
given TO eachmember in writing, by the president, sta
ting the object for which the meeting Is called.
SECTION y. The said boards of trustees may. at plea |
sure, remove any Of the resident officers Of their re-
spective institutions, except the superintendent, and
they may remove the superintendent also for incOnpe-
tency. gross neglect, or refusal to discharge the duties
devolving upon them, or for any misconduct which
at the head Of the institution, and may direct the dis
charge of a patient when they shall deem i expedient-
SECTION 10. No trustee or any officer Of tn. institu-
tons shall hereafter he, either directly or indirectly
interested in the purchase ofbuilding material. or any
article OF furniture or supply, FOR the use OF any ofthe
said asylums.
shall hereafter be eligible to the Office Of superintend-
ent of any OF said asylums. during the term for which
he was appointed, nor within one year after his term
shall have expired. |
SECTION l.. The superintendent Of each of said insti-
tufions shall be a physician Of acknowledged skin and
ability in his profession. He shall be the chief execu-
officer Of the asylum, and shall hold his Office for
the term Of six years, unless sooner removed by the
boari Of trustees, as provided for IN the ninth section
Of this act. Before entering upon the duties of his Of
he shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation.
faithfully and diligently TO discharge the duties re-
Of him by law lie shallhave the entire control
Of the medical, moral and dietetic treatment OF the pa
tents, and shall see that the sey eral officers OF the in
faithfully and diligently discharge their re-
spective duties. lie shall employ attendants, nurses,
servants and such other persons as be may deem nee
eSsary, for the efficient and economical ad ADMINISTRATION
1f the government Of the asylum, assign them their re-
iPectiye places and duties, and may at any time dis
,harge ans of them from service.
ITO 10. The assistant physicians shall be medi-
al men Of such character and qualifications as to be
to perform the ordinary duties of the superintend
-nts during their absence.
SECTION 4. The steward, under the direction Of the
uperintendents, and not otherwise. shall make all
he best terms, keep the accounts, MAKE engagements
With, pay and discharge those employed in and about
he asyiums, have a personal superintendent OF the
arm, garden and grounds, and perform such other du-
les as may he assigned him. :
SECTION Is. The steward shall execute a bond, with
sufficient sureties, 10 be approved by the trustees,
- pa 90A Va SAh@
hat he will faithfully perform the duties Of his office, {
nd pay over and account for all money that shall come 1
INTO his hand belonging to the State Of Ohio. '
SECTION i6. The matron under the direction Of the
uperintendent, and not otherwise, shall have the gem
supervision Of the domestic arrangements of the q
and do what she can to promote the COM 4
ort and restoration Of the patients. ]
SECTION Il. The trustees Of each asylum and their 1
uccessors in Office, shall have the power to receive a
nj hold in trust, for the use and benefit Of the asylum. S
ny grant or devise Of land, or any donation or Request t
( money, OF personal PROPERTY to be applied to the c
and support OF insane persons, or TO the
Of the asylum Z
SECTION I5. The Treasurer Of State may, from time v
time, advance to the steward on his own order, ap- s
roTed or endorsed by the superintendent and two of {
he trustees. on a warrant from the Auditor Of State, q I
I'm not exceeding one thousand dollars, to meet cur ]
ent expenses. The steward shall keep an accurate I
ceouht' IN detail IN a proper book, Always oPeh 10 the =
Inspection Of TIE superintent and trustees, Of all ex- !
enses paid out ofthe sums so advanced 10y the treasu- Il
er; and shall settle the same with the superintendent
nd trustees monthly, or oftener If required. and shall q
ccount for the whole sum Of one thousand dollars be L
ore another order is approved. e
SECTION 10. Each county shall he entitled to send pa $
tents TO the asylum Of the district in which tie county $
situated, in proportion to the number Of insane per v
Ons in the county. No person who has been or may c
GREATER be returned from either asylum as inearable, ]
7 who has been insane more than two years last past, c
hall he admitted into either asylum. except when the
sylums are not filed TO their capacity with other pa :
No idiot shall he admitted into any asylum, and u
o lunatic under the aye Of seven years. shall be adj 4
liited. No person shall he admitted into either fthe 5
sylums belonging to the State except ne he a citizen of a
anu eh ~ VI liz 81 III AhlLh LHE
sylum admitting him is located, and no person shall 5
e considered an inhahltant within the meaning Of a
his act. who has not resided within this State one year c
preceding the date Of his or her application, and
70 person shall be entitled to the benefit OF the pI owls il
ons OF this act. except persons whose insanity or lun II
cy has occurred during the time such persons shall =
resided In this State All persons who have been a
r may hereafter be admitted into either Of the asylums 5
elonging to the State, shall lie maintained therein at d
he expense Of the State. o
SECTION 20. For the admission OF patients into tho
eYer1l asylums, The following proceedings shall be 7
viz: Some resident citizen Of the proper county !
hall file with the probate judge Of such county an afi =
aVit, which shall he substanti lily as follows: U
The State Of Ohio.--c county, IS: Il
--. the undersigned, a citizen of-coun. :
?, Ohio, being sworn. says that he believes -- u
insane. His insanity is OF less than two years dura v
on, Tor his neing at large is dangerous to the commu-
ity) He has a legal settlement in -- town Z
in this county Dated thiS-d day E .
!. D.---A.B !
SECTION 81. When the affidavit aforesaid shalIbe I'll i
d. the probate judge shall forthwith issue his warrant !
some suitable person. commanding him to bring the d
ersOn alledged to he insane before him,on a day in such u
1arrsnt named, which shall not be more than FIVE days y
the affidavit shall have been filed 1and shall imme- a
lately issue subpRnas for such Witnesses as he shall :
eem necessary, Zone OF whom shall be a respectable 4