North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-05-25


cluded. Such warrant may be executed by tn
sheriff or any constable of the county, or, i
enquiries as they may make-and in making
which they shall take the testimony of the in
formant If they deem necessary or desirable
course would probably be injurious to sucl
person, or attended with no advantage, the!
may dispense with such presence. In their ex
animation they shall hear testimony for ant
against such application, If any is offered. An!
citizen of the county, or any relative of the per
f4e e and the pares may 3,
counsel, il. they elect. The commissioners
whether they. decide, to dispense with
or not shall appoint some regular practic-
ing physician of the county, to visit OF
see such person; and make a p personal naa
tions in the information, and tonching the act
ual condition of such person, and forthwith re.
may not be OF their own number; and the ply
stefan so appointed and acting, shall certify,
under his hand, that he has, in pursuance of his
appointment, made acareful personal examina-
ton as required; and that, on such eXanDa-
ton, he finds the person In question insane, if
such is the fact: and If otherwise, not insane
and in connection with his examination the
said physician shall endeavOr to obtain from
the relatives OF the person in question, or from
Others who know the facts, correct answers, so
far as may be, to tho interrogatories hereinafter
required 10 be propounded in such cases, which
interrogations and answers shall be attached to
his ertificate.
SEC. 81. On the return OF the physicians GER
titicate, the commissioners shall. soon as
practicable, conclude their investigation; and
having done so.they shall find whether the per-
son alleged TO be insane, is insane; whether, if
insane, a fit subject for treatment and custody
IN the hospital; whether the legal settlement
of such person is in their county, and ii not in
their county, where il is, if ascertained. If they
find such person Is not insane, they shall order
his or her ilnmediate discharge, if in custody.
II they find such person insane and fiji subject
for custody and treatment in the hospital, they
shall forthwith issue their warrant and a
.It
The settlement OF the person, il found !;
and if not found, their information, if any, in
regard thereto, authorizing the superintendent
OF the hospital to receive and keep such person
as a patient therein. Said warrant and dupli-
cate, with the certificate and finding OF the
physician shall be delivered to the Sheriff Of
the county. who shall execute the same by con-
veying such person to the hospital and deliver
ing him or her, with such duplicate and ply
sician's certificate and finding TO the superin-
tendent thereof. The superintenden Mt, over his
official signature, shall acknowledge such de-
livery on The original warrant, which the sher
III shall return TO the clerk OF the commission
ers, with his costs and expenses endorsed there
ons If neither the sheriff nor his deputy is at
hand, OF. if both are otherwise engaged, the
commissioners may appoint some other suita-
bic person 10 execute the warrant in his stead.
who shall talk and subscribe an oath or affirm
be entitled to the same fees as the sheriff. The
Sheriff. or any other person so appointed, may
take to his aid such assistance as he may need
to execute such warrant: but no fcmale person
shall thus be taken to the hospital without the
attendance of some other female, or some rela-
tive OF such person. The superintendent in
his acknowledgement of delivery, must state
whether there was any such person in attend
ance, and give the name or names. II any. 1t
is, however, hereby provided, that If any rela-
tive or immediate friend of the patient, who is
a suitable person, shall so request he shall have
the privilege OF taking and executing such war;
rant in preference to the sheriff or anyoter per-
son, and without taking such oath or animation:
and for so doing he shall be entitled TO his
necessary expenses, but to no fees The require
ments of this and the preceding section are
modified By the provisions of the next section.
SEC. %. If the commissioners find that the
person so committed to the hospital has, or
probably has, a legal settlementin some other
county ia the State they shall Immediately no.
tify the commissioners of such county of such
finding and commitment; and the commissions
certain, If possible, whether the person in ques-
ton has legal settlement in their county, and
shall Immediately notify the superintendent of
county from VIII ich such person was commit
ted, of the result of such inquiry. II the legal
settlement set Of person SO committed cannot
found, the notices so required shall then be
given.
SEC. %. When the superintendent of the
hospital has been duly notified, as herein re-
quired. that patient sent to the hospital from
one county, has legal settlement in another
county of the State, he shall thereafter hold
and treat such patient as from the latter county:
and such holding shall apply to expenses al
ready incurred in behalf Of such patient and
remaining unadjuSted.
SEC. "a. Expenses incurred as herein proyid-
ed by one county, on account of an insane per-
ty of the State, shall be refunded with lawful
interest thereon, by the county OF such settle
ment; and shall be presented to the board of
Supervisors of the county sought to be charged,
which shall be allowed and paid the same as
other claims
SEC. 25 Patients in the hospital having no
settlement can not be ascertained shall be sup
ported at the expense OF the State. This provi-
sion shall apply to all such patients now in the
hospital touching expenses already incurred
and remaining unpaid, If any such there be (;
and the trustees may authorize the superin-
tendent to remove any such patient at the ex-
pense OF the state, If they see proper.
SEC. rs. All patients in the hospital shall be
regarded as standing upon an equal footing;
terent conditions OF mind and body and their
respective needs, shall be provided for and
treated with equal care; p'ycfded. that if the
shall desire it, and shall pay the expense there
OF, such patient may have special care, and may
be provided with a special attendant, jas may
be agreed upon with the superintendent. In
such cases, the charges for such special care and
attendance shall be paid quarterly in advance
tient in the hospital shall have the privilege of
paying any portion or all of the expenses of
such patient therein; and the superintendent
shall cause the account of such patient to be
credited with any sums so paid.
SEC. Is. IT. in the case of any person found
to be insane and fit subjects for custody and
shall be shown to the satisfaction Of the coin-
mlsslOnerS that they cannot mt once be admitted
therein Tor want OF room, or for any other cause,
anu that they cannot with safety be allowed to
goat liberty, the commissioners shall require
that such patients shall be suitably, provided
for otherwise, until such admission can be had,
or until the occasion therefor no longer exists
Such patients may be cared for either as private
or as public patients. Those shall be treated as
private patients whose relations or friends will
obligate themselves to take care of and provide
for them without public charge. In the case of
any one treated as private patient, the COM
missioners shall appoint some suitable person
q special custodian who shall have authority.
and whose duty it shall be, in all suitable ways
TO restrain, protect and care for such patient
safety and comfort, and in such manner as to
best protect the persons and property of Others
In the case OF public patients, the commission
ers shall require that they be, in like manner
restrained, protected and cared for by the d.
rectors of the poor house, or the oyerseers of
the poor at the expense Of the county, and they
comply with the same. If there Is no poor house
LOT the reception OF such patients, or ii no more
suitable place can be found, they may be con-
3lned in she Jail Of the county In charge of the
sheriff rii ;, ,a,..i,... !, ...,,,,.a,a,,,,.,
In behalf Of persons alleged 70 bs insane, ana
made substantially in the manner above pre-
scribed, and asking that provision be made for
within the county; and on proof OF their in
sanity, and need of care as above pointed out,
the commissioners may provide Tor their re-
straint, protection, and care, as in the case Of
other applications.
SEC. 80 On information laid before the COM
missioners of any county, that a certain insane
person in the county Is suffering for want of
proper care, they shall forthwith inquire into
the matter, and If they find the informal
ton well founded, they shall make all needful
provision for the care Of such persons, as pro-
Wded in other cases.
SEC; 81. No person supposed to be insane
shall be restrained Of his liberty by any other
person, otherwise than in pursuance of author
such extent and for such brief period as may
be necessary for the safety OF person and prop
erty, until such authority can be obtained.
Fl SEC. 81. Any person having care of an insane