Evening star., 1939-06-25
Lunucy
Continued From First Page.)

are being judged by experts rather
than by laymen and are being more
adequately protected against rail.
roading" For the first time in the
District they have been given the
status of sick persons and the tinge
of criminality has been taken from
their behavior. They no longer are
made public spectacles for the
amusement of court onlookers.
All this. however. does not helr
out the overworked staff of Gallinger
Trial Formerly Public.
The system which, up to last June
had prevailed in the District for &c
years was as follows:
A mental patient could be brought
to Gallinger Hospital by the police
because of some deranged act COM
mitted in public or on certificate
signed by two practicing physicians
When called on to act on such a
certificate the police were obliged
by law to take the patient to
Gallinger.
This constituted legal temporary
commitment. 1t was necessary, how
ever. for the hospital authorities tc
call the case to the attention of the
court within 80 days. A date ther
was set for hearing the case be-
fore jury. A great deal of lati-
tude was allowed If the Gallinger
psychiatrists felt that the condi-
tion was temporary they could, and
often did. ask for postponement for
another 80 days in the hope the
mind of the patient would clear up
to the point where he could be dis
charged. Two or three postpone
ments were not uncommon.
At the trial the District alienist
and his assistant testified for the
State. The patient could have, OF
course, his own witnesses and be
represented by counsel. Cases were
never brought before the jury un-
less the District alienist was con-
vinced the persons were of unsound
mind. The stats of both Gallinger
and ST. Elizabeth's had the author
ity to discharge Immediately at any
time any patient whom they con-
sidered to be sane, turning back to
the police those held on criminal
charges.
Close Cooperation.
The two hospitals worked in close
cooperation. It was realized that
Gallinger was not equipped to take
care of the violently insane, the
suicidal or the tuberculous. 1t also
did not have the equipment for the
immediate treatment of paresis
which is considered important in
effecting cure. st. Eizabeth's had
excellent equipment for all these
classes Of patients.
As a result at least 40 per cent
Of the patients received at Gal
linger were transferred to st. Eliza
beth's within from one to three
days. This kept the Gallinger wards
free Of dangerous lunatics.
The new system, which went into
effect q year ago, works as follows:
Police still may bring to Gallinger
for temporary commitment persons
taken into custody for deranged acts
In public.
A person can no longer be COM
unitted temporarily on the certifi-
cate Of two physicians and there is
no provision for police assistance IN
removing q person from home to
hospital. The procedure required is
that q relative or friend-almost
anybody, in fact-petition the court
to have a patients mental condi-
ton investigated. The court then
must issue an order which Is served
on the patient by a United States
marshal.
Examined by Alienist.
Such . person then is brought to
0Allinger. There the District alienist,
Dr.. Joseph Gilbert. and his assistant
must examine the patient and
certify to the court within 48 hours
their diagnosis of his mental con-
dition. Persons can no longer be
taken to st. Elizabeths before ad-
Indication. After the notification of
the court by the physicians the case
Is set for hearing before the new
commission, and prescribed notifica-
tions issued to the patient, the next
Of kin, etc.
The commission sits at Gallinger.
As now constituted it consists of
nine men-one lawyer and eight
psychiatrists. The psychiatrists
serve two at time for three-month
terms. The board examines the
patient and decides whether he shall
Be detained permanently until
cured, or released. Nobody can be
sent to st. Elizabeth's until q final