Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-17
HABlTUAL DRINKERS
Provision Made by State Law for
Their Disposal.
GET TERM OF YEARS IN HOSPITAL
Commitment May Be From One to
Five Years-Monthly Reports to
Governor Must Be Made After Be.
ing Paroled-Meets With Approval.

A new law went into effect on July
4 in regard to the disposal and treat
ment of habitual drunkards. The
board of control Is to provide a de-
partment in one of the state insane
asylums of the state for the treatment
of inebriates if the authorities see fit
to send them there.
1t is called, "An act to provide de-
partment in one of the hospitals for
the insane for the detention and treat
ment Of dipsomaniacs, inebrates and
those addicted to the use of narcotics,
said department thus provided for to
be designated as a hospital for inebri-
ates."
Examination and Commitment.
| ALL persons addicted to the excess
sive use of morphine or other narcot-
les, who shall be citizens of Iowa and
residents of the county from which
they might be committed, may be
brought before the district court or
Judge in the county where they reside,
for examination. The examination,
trial and commitment shall be govern
! ed by the same rules as those that ap-
ply to the commitment of incorrigibles
to the state industrial school.
Term of Commitment.
The term of detention and treat
ment shall be for the first commitment
not less than one year nor more than
three years, and for the second com,
nnitment, not less than two years nor
more than five years. The governor
can parole a patient under certain con.
4 ditions.
Conditions of Parole.
| If, at the end of thirty days, the pa
tient appears to be cured and if ths
physician and superintendent shall sc
recommend, the governor may parole
the patient, provided, that said pa
tient shall pledge himself or herself
to- refrain from the further use OF al
Intoxicating liquors during the remain
der of his or her term of commitment
and shall avoid all places and persons
that would tend to lead him or her
back to the old habits.
$ = Must Make Reports.
On the first day of every month the
patient must report to the governor
said report to be verified by the coun
4 ty clerk. In this report he states that
he has refrained from the use of al
Intoxicating liquors during the pas
month. Should he fail to report the
sheriff may return him at once to the
. hospital asa
Expenses-How Paid. oi'i
y The expenses of trial., commitment
!; and treatment shall be borne and pait
in the same manner and out of tn,
/ same fund as the expenses of the in
sane patients are borne and the es
tates of such patients shall be liable
to the same extent as in the case o
insane persons.
Judge Moons Opinion.
i Police Judge Moon, who has to dea
with people of this kind every day il
4 court, when asked as to his opinion 0
4 the new law, said: II am very mucl
in favor of the new law. believe it t
be step in the right direction an,
that it will be productive of mucl
good. do not believe it will be o
much greater expense to the taxpaye
than the present method of dealing
with them and it will prove NOR
satisfactory. What to do with thes
{ men is and always has been question
for city officials, but if the state take
the matter in hand | believe it will b
settled once for all"