Evening star., 1909-09-12
PLEA FOR AFFLICTED
Action Relating to Persons
Suspected of insanity.
SUGGESTION OF new RULE
Commissioner West Recommends
Patients Be Sent to Hospital.
NOT CONFINED IN POLICE CELLS
Temporary Confinement Until Ex-
animation Can Be Made by
the Police Surgeons.
[oT CONFINED IN POLICE CELLS

More humane treatment Of persons sus-
pected of being of unsound mind, who are
detained by the police. is the object of an
order which Commissioner West today
asked the Commissioners to issue.
1t provides for the temporary commit
ment of such persons to the Washington
Asylum Hospital instead of temporary
confinement in police station house cells
or witness rooms, until they shall have
been examined by the police surgeons
The treatment Of persons arrested on
suspicion of being of unsound mind has
been hitherto controlled by a general or
der of the police department, which pro-
vides:
After the hour of clock pm. and
up to the hour of s o'clock am, where
persons not violently insane are taken
into custody, they should be detained at
the first precinct police station, tempo
rarily, under the supervision of the door
man, or, If females, under the care of the
matron, affOrding such humane attention
as may be possible. This does not apply
to violent cases or where the surgeons in
the cases may otherwise direct
Order by Commissioners.
Recently the Commissioners issued the
following order:
Whereas the acting health officer of
the District of Columbia reports that an
inspection Of the Washington Asylum
Hospital shows it to be properly con-
structed and equipped for the reception
and care of insane persons or persons Of
unsound mind. the temporary commit
ment Of such persons to that institution
is authorized in accordance with the pro-
visions of an act to authorize the appre-
hension and detention of insane persons
in the District Of Columbia, and provid-
ing for their temporary commitment in
the Government Hospital for the Insane,
and for other purposes approved April
p, 1904.
AS the general order of the police chief
was not specifically repealed, some mis-
understanding has arisen over the mat
ter. and to clear it up Commissioner West
today moved the adoption of the follow
ing order:
when any person is arrested by the
police on the charge OF insanity the Of
ficer making the charge shall file his af-
f1davit In the Office of the major and su-
perintendent of police, as provided in Sec
| tion in an act of Congress approved
April -, 1904. authorizing the aoprehen-
sion and detention Of insane persons in
the District of Columbia, etc.; said person
when taken in charge by the police shall
be conveyed promptly as possible to
the Washington Asylum Hospital instead
OF being conveyed to station house, said
the action of the Commissioners in full
filing the requirements of section of
the act above referred to. but said COM
| mitments to the Washington asylum
shall be of a temporary nature only. and
that as soon as the person 30 detained
shall be declared to be of unsound mind
by two physicians, as required by law,
said person shall be transferred immedi-
ately to the Government Hospital for the
Insane, as provided by law.
Commissioner Vests Comment.
Urging the adoption Of this order. Com
missioner West has said to the Commis-
| sioners:
THE purpose intended to be accom-
plished by this order is. in my judgment.
both sensible and humane. l have long
room in station house is not the place
for the detention of person whose mind
is affected. but that such person should.
as promptly as possible. be conveyed to
some place where the presence of nurses
and physicians will tend. as far as pos
sfble, to alleviate his physical and men,
tai condition. At the same time, the
Washington Asylum Hospital ought not
to be more than place of temporary de-
tention. inasmuch as the Government
Hospital for the Insane is manifestly the
proper place for the prompt custody Of
persons whose unsound mental condition
| is beyond question.
THE major and superintendent of police
should instruct the sanitary officer to ex-
ercise the greatest care in executing
every detail of the law regulating the ar
rest, detention and commitment of per-
sons alleged to be Of unsOund mind"