The herald., 1894-06-18
BEES IN THEIR BONNETS
On Candidates for the Insane
Asylum.
How Examinations for Insanity Are
Conducted.
The Limitations of the State Lava
Haphazard Selection ofPhysiciaas.
a Suggestion by Ono of the
Superior Judges.

The examination of insane people lie a
branch of the duties OF the superior
judges fraught with grave responsibility.
In this county, although the number OF
insanity cases has reached large figure
for several years past, this junction has
been exercised with exceeding care both
by the judges and by the physicians who
have been called in to make up the
commissions in lunacy. The result has
been that 80 far there has not been one
case where any scandal has arisen, such
as are reported from time to time in
other cities.
Out of the large number Of cases ex-
amined in year, quite number are
discharged or sent to hospitals, where
the patients recover in short time.
A certain per cent of the cases brought
before the commissions are Of people
whose disturbed mental condition ia due
to excessive dissipation. 1t is very
seldom that such peraons are sent to an
asylum, but after treatment in the hos
pitfalls for a short time they are fully re-
stored to their normal condition.
1t is the duty OF the commission to
inquire very particularly into the dan
gerous tendencies of those who come
before them for examination. Without
a prediction by the patient to take his
or her life or the lives OF others the la
sets up difficulties in the way of receiv-
ing patients into the state asylums.
Yet so cunning are the really insane
that those who appear the most harm
less may be the most dangerous, and
many are the puzzling questions which
arise for determination. The law also
makes it difficult for the feeble minded
and i'm beetles to be received in the
asylums.
The method Of procedure in bringing
about an examination for lunacy is not
very systematic, 40 far as the makeup
of the commission ia concerned. The
law requires a complaint of q quasi
criminal nature, sworn to by the person
bringing the charge, and time is fixed
by, the Judge before whom it ia to
be heard. Besides the judge, the
law requires the presence of the dis
trict attorney or deputy to inquire into
the property interests of the patient,
that they may be adequately protected !;
also not more than three physicians.
There are no specific provisions for the
presence of any especial physicisns. an d
it has been the general rule of the su-
perior judges in Los Angeles county to
have only two physicians.
To attend lunacy examination is a
privilege much appreciated by the
city physicisns. who make neat little
fee for sitting upon the patient. 1t is q
case of many being called but few chos-
en-. and it has really reaulted in few
of the physicians most conveniently To-
Gated absorbing quite large proportion
OF the cases.
While the doctor who patiently waits
for q summons from the court house
which never comes, exercises his Amer
lean privilege of kicking vigorously, the
practice which has given the largest
amount of cases habituslly to few ply
sicians is really better for the successful
performance OF the requisite duties. The
physicians who are 80 frequently in
attendance become experts upon diseased
mentality, and their ability to inquire
into such cases strengthens the law,
which left go much in this particular to
chance. 1t is not every physician by a
long ways, who understands dementia.
Not infrequently a strange doctor
secures a call upon lunscy commission
and ia so confused at the judicial nature
of the inquiry at which he is assisting
that he betrays very few resources tow
ards precise calculation of the condi-
ton of the patient.
The selection of physicians for the
commissions is left almost entirely to
chance. They are usually summoned
by the sheriff's office shortly before the
time set for the examination, and
neither the court nor any one else is
especially charged with their selection.
The law assumes that all physicians are
the same and equally efficient to get at
the inside OF mans head.
Under such system it is astonishing
that there has been so little abuse of
such unlimited power.
Not long ago one OF the superior
judges in discussing this matter said
that there should be a permanent com.
mission in lunacy, 80 that all euch cases
could be brought before skilled and ex-
perienced persons, whose attachments
would leave no doubt of the accuracy OF
the determinations arrived at. Especi-
ally should this be done in a city like
Los Angeles, where from whatever
cause. there are so many cases of this
nature.