The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-05-04
Published April !, 1872.
CHAPTER I76-GENBEAL

Wisconsin nOsplttiGS Tor the insane.
rba neople of the state of Wisconsin, represented
in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
section l. The hospital for the insane located
near the city of Madison, county OF Dane, shall be
Known a. the = NIsconsin State Hospital for the
Insane" and the hospital for the insane located
near the city of Oshkosh, county of Winnebago,
ehall be known as the Northern Hospital for the
See q The governor shall appoint five persons.
Who shall be trustees of the Wisconsin State Hos
pal for the Insane and shall be styled the ''board
~ trustees of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the
Insane and five persons who shall be trustees OF
the Northern Hospital for the Insane. and shall be
STYLED the board of trustees of the Northern
Eosp;tal for the Insane all of whom shall be
electors and residents of this state and majority
Of each board shall constitute quorum for the
transaction of business. OF those members first
appointed, one shall serve for five years one for
four years one for three years, one for two years
and one for one year, as may be designated by the
governor at the tine of appointment, and upon the
expiration Of these successive terms, the vacancies
shall be filed IN like manner for the term of five
wears and each member shall serve until las sue
crss0r is appointed. There shall be annually APP
pointed in the manner above prescribed, one per
son to I'LL the regular occurring vacancy: and
sbould any vacancy occur by death, resignation or
otherwise, the same shall be filled by appointment
of the governor lor the uneXpired portion of the
form for which such trustee would have been re-
cuired to serve. pr1Uided, that If anv member CT
either Of said boards shall fail or NEGLECT to attend
Al least tEo regular meetings Of the board of which
lie il member in any one year, the place Of such
member shall be deemed vacant, and shall be filed
bv the governor as above designated for other cases
Of vacancy; and frOGideg further, that the trus-
tees Of the Wisconsin Hospital for the Insane now
In Office shall continue in Office for the terms for
which they nave been seyerally appointed, and va
cqncies filled at the expiration OF their several
terms the samc as though this act had not been
passed: and all their appointments. acts and do
inr- under and by authority of chapter 1O2 of the
General laws of 1871, shall remain in force the
same as though this act had not been passed, in all
cases where they do not conflict with the prOYls-
ions Of this act.
Sec ,. 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 to
faithfully discharge the duties required of them by
law and by the bylaws that may be established.
They shall oe pGid their necessary expenses dur
in the time they are actually engaged in the dis
charge of their official duties, such payment to be
made oct Of any money appropriated for the cur
rent expenses of the hospital, by an order drawn
nv the secretary OF the board, audited in accord
nee with the bylaws of the board OF which they
are members. The first meeting of the trustees of
the Northern Hospital for the Insane shall be
any time after this act shall take effect upon no.
tice from the governor. when they shall organize
bv the election OF president secretary and treas
urcr who shall serve until the annual meeting,
which shall be held upoa the third Wednesday in
October IN each year, In the hospital building,
when the trustees shall choose one of their num-
her president. and q secretary and treasurer for
the wear then ensuing. and until their successors
bond to the state in such as tie trustees shall
prescribe, to be approved by the governor and be
posted with the secretary of state, which bond
Shall be conditioned for the faithful performance
az his duties as such treasurer The president
and secretary of the different boards shall perform
such duties as are required by the laws and by
laws established for the government Of the insttu-
tons The trustees shall meet quarterly at the re
spective hospital buildings on such days in the
months Of January, April and july in each year as
the boards respectively shall determine. and at
4apb3 ~ q n n
into the affairs and condition Of the hospital under
their charge
Sec T. The boards Of trustees shall have general
control aud management OF the hospital under heE
care They shall have full power to make all by
laws necessary for the government Of the same.
not Inconsistent with the laws and constitution of
tile state Of Wisconsin. and conduct the affairs of
the institution in accordance with the laws and by
laws regulating the same. The boards ofuustecs
respectively may take and hold in trust for the
hospitals auv lands conveyed or devised. aud any
money or other personal property given or be-
gueathcd. to be applied for any purpose connected
with the institutions.
Sec 5 TIE board Of each institution shall ap-
point a superintendent Who shall be physician
&C acknowledged skill AID ability in the medical
profession, and shall be graduate of some incor-
parated medical college, aud shall give unQues-
tiouabIe evidence of unimpeCchable moral charac-
ter. and shall devote all his time ard attention to
the said hospital: and upon the nomination of the
superintendent they shall also appoint a steward.
patron and assistant physician or physicians, who
shlll lie STYLED the resident officers Of the institu
ton. and shall reside in the same ard be governed
hy and subject TO all the laws and bylaws estab-
lishcd for the government Of said institution. The
trustees shall fix the salaries of all officers not 9th
crWise determined by law. They shall appoint q
competent physician, whose duty it shall be, to
gethcr with one Of their number, 10 visit and in
spect said hospital, 81 to its internal management
once in each month, and such inspectors shall re-
port tile board the result Of their respective Wis
lis nj each ensuing regular meeting of said board.
Such committee shall be entitled 10 no per diem,
bHt all necessary expenses attending said visits 70
the hospital shall be paid out of the current eX-
pense fund Of the hospital.
Sec. Is. The superintendent. before entering mp
on the duties Of his Office shall take and subscribe
an oath or affirmation, faithfully and diligently to
discharge The Gsties required Of him by law, and
bylaws regulating the institution.
See. Z. The experimenting physician shall be
the chef executive officer eff the hospital: re shall
exercise entire control over all the subordinate Off
GERS, and shall employ all assistants necessarily
connected with the institution. below the grade
GERS aud he may discharge any assistant officer
under his control, being responsible to the trustees
for the proper exercise Of that duty in regard 10
officers: ana fer any satisfactory cause the SAID
superintendent may be discharged by an atiirma-
live vote of a majority Of all the members of the
said board OF trustees ut any regular meeting of
the same. The superintendent shall not be com
PEELED % obey the command Of any subpoena
issued in any civil or criminal case, except where
the accused is charged with the crime of murder
frors1sf. he shall make and subscribe an oath
setting forth that TO obey such summons would be
seriously detrimental and hazardous 10 the welfare
Of the institution under his charge; nor shall ne
he required to obey a subpoena in any case, unless
tic court Judge thereof shall make specia
order IN vacation or at least one week before the
time when he shall be required 70 appear, that the
subpoena issues, and IN All such cases. memoran
dunn - such order shall be endorsed upon the
subpoena.
Sec s. Abuse, neglect or i'll treatment of an in.
sane patient hv the superintendent or any person
under him. with his knowledge and permIss SION
Shall be deemed OfenSG mCutlng expulsion
from Office and shall, moreover. subject the per
son 80 abusing or lll-trcltlnT such insane patient
IL fine or Imprisonment or both, at the dlscrcuoI
OF the court. and such case may be prosecuted BY
any person coguizant Of the fact, in the name
the state OF " Iscousin before any court of compe
tent jurisdiction in the county of Dane or tn
county Of Winuehago, rs the case may be; and an
fines toleCtel in pursuance OF the provisions G
this section shall be paid into the treasury or Tx
appropriate hospital.
Sec. 9. Al persons confined in either hospita
Is insane patients shall he entitled TO tle benefits
Of the Wait OF habeas corpus, and the question O
insanity shall be determined by the court lssuIn:
such writ: and If the court before whom such cas-
i brought shall decide that the person i insane
such decision shall be no barto the issuing of SAT-
writ second time, if il shall be claimed that sIcl
person has been restored to reason. ana 0 - hfc
b. further Dro.l8ed that if it be alleged that IN.
person is improperly confined in either OF said hos
pitfalls ~ an insane person, the board oil trustee
shall have power 10 examine into such case, II
such manner in their opinion its necessities dc
mand: and II, after such examination snail nav
been carefully and critically made, aided by a
least two skilfal and experienced physlclsns, rh
she'll have been designated by said board, 1t shall
appear to them that such person Is not insane ant
should not he thus confined, they shall issue a
order for his or her immediate release from sue
confinement, and such order shall be forthwith
executed by the superintendent OF the proper non
pital ~,
sdmlttcd into either hospital for the insane aud n
person shall ha retained in either hospital after,
a fair trial il shall have become reasonably certai