The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-06-23

ses Tor the hospital, where and IN such
manner as they can be made on the best
terms, keep the accounts, pay employees.
and have q personal superintendence OF
the hospital.
SEC. is. The superintendent shall pro-
vide an official seal upon which shall be
inscribed the statute naaie of the hospital
under his charge, and the name Of the
State.
Sec. IA. The assistant physicians
shall be medical men Of such charac.
ter and qualifications as to be able to
perform the ordinary duties of the
superintendent during his necessary
absence or inability to act.
Sec. Is. In each organized county
of the State there shall be board Of
COM missioners consisting of three
persons, to be styled commissioners
of insanity, two Of whom shall con.
stituto quorum. Tho clerk of the
circuit court shall be ex-ofiicio a
member of such board and clerk of
the same. The other members shall
disappointed by tho Judge Of said
One of them shall be re.
spectacle practicing physician, and
the other q respectable practicing
lawyor; and the appointment shall
be made Of persons residing as con-
venient as may be to the county
seat. Such appointment may be
made during the session of the court
or in vacation and if made in vaca-
ton, 1t shall be by written order
signed by the Judge and recorded by
the clerk Of the court. Immediately
on the taking effect of this act, the
judge shall make the first appoint.
ment. He shall then appoint one
for one year and the other for two
years as their respective terms ex-
pire their successors shall be aproin.
ted for two years. The appointment
Of successors may be made at any
time within three months prior to
expiration Cf the term of the incum-
bent, who shall hold his office until
his successor is appointed and quail.
fes. In the temporary absence or
inability to act of two of the COM
missioners, the judge of the circuit
court, ifpresent, may act in the room
ofone of such commissioners or,
the commissioner present may call
to his aid q respectable practicing
physician or lawyer, who after quail.
flying as in other cases, may act in
the same capacity. The record, in
such cases, must show the fact OF
such absence.
Soc. Is. Before entering upon the
duties of their Office, the persons SO
appointed shall take and subscribe
an oath or affirmation to support the
constitution of the United States and
of the State Of Iowa, and to faith.
fully discharge their duties according
to law, as such commissioners; which
obligation shall be filed with the
clerk of said court, who shall enter q
memorandum thereof on the records.
They shall organize by choosing one
of their number president. They
shall hold their meetings for bust.
ness at the Office of the clerk of said
court, unless, for good reasons, they
shall fix on some other place. If they
deem necessary or advisable, they
may hold sessions at such regular
times as they may fix. They shall
also meet on notice from the clerk.
Sec. II. The term "clork" as hero
in used, means clerk Of said board of
commissioners, unless otherwise ex-
pressed. The said clerk shall sign
and give or issue all notices, appoint
merts, warrants, subpoenas or other
process required to be given or issued
by the commissioners, affixing his
seal thereto as clerk of said court.
He shall file and carefully preserve
in his Office all papers connected with
any request by the commissioners,
and properly belonging to his Office,
with all notices, reports and other
communications. He shall keep
separate books in which to minute
the proceedings of the board; and his
entries therein shall DO sufficiently
full to show, with the papers filed, a
complete record of their findings, or
ders and transactions, The notices,
reports and communications, herein
required to be given or made, may be
sent by mail, unless otherwise ex.
pressed or implied; and the fact and
date of such sending, and of their
reception, must be noted ON the pro.
per record.
Soc. 18. The said commissioners
shall have cognizance of all appli.
cations for admission to the hospital
or for the safe keeping otherwise, Of
Insane persons within their respect.
i've counties, excepting in cases Other
wise specially provided for. For the
purpose of discharging the duties re
quired of them, they shall have
power to issue subpoenas and compe
obedience thereto, to administer
oaths and do any act of q cour,
necessary and proper in the pre-
misses.
Sec. 10. Applications for admission
to the hospital must be made in writ
ing, in the nature of an information
verified by affidavit. Such inform
alton must allege, that the person il
whose behalf the application is made
is believed by the informant 70 b
insane, and "a fit subject for custody
and treatment in the hospital; tha
such person is found in the county
and has legal settlement therein, i
such is known TO be tho fact; and i
such settlement is not in the county
whore it is, if known; or where it il
believed to be, if the informant is ad
vised on tho subject.
Sec. 20. On the filing of an infor
nation as above provided, the com
missioners shall at once take steps t
investigate the grounds of the infor
nation. For this purpose, they ma,
require that the person for whom
such admission is sought, bo brough
before them. and that the examina
ton be had in his or her presence
and they may issue their warran
therefor, and provide for the suitabl
custody of such person until their in
vestigation shall be concluded. Sue
warrant may be executed by tn
| sheriff or any constable of the cour
ty; I; or, if they shall bc of opinion
from such preliminary inquiries a
they may make-and in maxim
which, they shall take the testimon