The record-union., 1897-05-07
COMMITMENTS ARE ILLEGAL.
A Puzzle as to What Can be Done
About II.
Physicians rlust Get Their Proper
Certificates Under the New
Lunacy Law.

DR.. F. w. Hatch, Superintendent of
State Hospitals, and member of the
State Commission in Lunacy, announces
that more than 100 patients have been
admitted into the several insane aSy-
lums in the State since March 31st
That simple statement would not be
out of the ordinary except that it is
qualified by another to the effect that
since the date named, not one commit
ment has been legal in it's nature.
The new lunacy law, which went into
effect from and after the date of it's APP
prevail March .31sD provided that the
State Commission in Lunacy should,
upon recommendation of a Superior
Judge of each of the counties in the
State, issue certificates to all physi-
clans who desired them, who were grad
yates of a medical college, had had five
years or more experience in actual prac-
tice, and We're possessed of good moral
characters. The law also provided that
each certificate shall bear the seal of the
Commission in Lunacy, and that when
these provisions have been complied
with the holders of such certificates
shall have been qualified to act as eX-
aminers of persons suspected of lunacy.
AS a matter of fact the State Commits
sion in Lunacy was not organized until
last week, no certificates have as yet
been issued, though number of appli-
cations have been received, and the Off
cial seal of the commission, with which
to stamp such certificates, or permits,
has not yet been received.
The fee for examining each lunatic is
SO in each case, and DR.. Hatch is exer-
cised as to who shall pay the fee to have
those patients re-examined, who have
been admitted since March 31st. He
has also raised the question as to
whether such patients may be re-eX-
amined by the local examiners of the
counties wherein the several asylums
are situated, or whether it will be neces-
sary to send them back to the counties
whence they came. The Attorney-G Gen
eral has been requested to submit an
opinion on the matter.
Up to date the following applications
for certificates, bearing proper indorse-
ments by Superior Judges, have been
received by the commission, and Secre-
tary Carriere is busy filing in the certi-
ficates appointing the applicants:
Sacramento County-Drs. G.. c. Sim
mons and A. c. Hart.
Stanislaus County-Drs. c. w. Evans
and W. j. White.
Yolo County-Drs. w. w. Macfarlane,
F. X. Vaisard, H. D. Lawhead, j. t.
Royles and T. w. Rose.
Calaveras County-Drs. F. E. Blais-
dell and NJ. c. Simmons.
MendocinO County-Drs. H. c. Wyck-
off and George w. Stout.
Napa County-Drs. S. f. Chapman
J. w Hostetter, Ben Shurtleff and E. T.
Hennesy.
The following circular letter, inclosing
communication from the General
Superintendent of State Hospitals, has
been sent to each of the Sheriffs in the
State:
Dear Sir: The State Commission in
Lunacy has received numerous requests
from Boards of Supervisors and Sher-
ifs asking for suggestions as to what
accommodations should be prepared in
the several counties for the care of the
insane while in the custody of the Sher-
ifs. II is the desire of the commits
sion to minimize the expense of such
arrangements to the counties, but it re-
cognizes that conditions differ in all
most every county, and that no specific
and ironclad rules can be made. The
General superintendent has therefore
prepared the inclosed circular simply as
a suggestion to the Sheriffs to assist
them in complying with the require
ments of the new law. Very respect
fully, ]. d. Carriere,
Secretary State Commission in
Lunacy.
The communication is as follows:
In preparing accommodations for al
legged insane under the new lunacy law
it is suggested that the main object to
be accomplished is that comfortable
quarters be provided wherein insane or
alleged insane may be temporarily de-
tanned outside of the jail proper. You
can prepare rooms in your county build
ing. but they should be so located that
the occupants should be free from asso-
citation with criminals or persons
charged with crime.
LAS furnishings for such rooms an iron
bed with woven wire mattress and a
moss or hair top mattress, two pairs
gray blankets, two bedspreads, and
straw mattress for untidy patients,
should be provided. A few yards of
carpet made up as a rug, a chair or two
and proper toilet arrangements, a wash
bowl and water and chamber vessel
should be added. All furniture can be
easily removed in case of violent or very
untidy patients.
Should it be desired by your Board of
Supervisors, a separate two or three
room building may be erected or rooms
may be rented for the temporary ac-
commodation Of patients. Arrangements
should be made to give them proper at
tention and two rooms had better be
provided, one for each sex, or in case
the other room is not needed for that
purpose it can be used by the attendant
or person in charge of patients"