Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/74

 S8 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

the certificates of two physicians to the effect that he is insane. In other cases the court appoints a committee of three (a physi- cian, a lawyer, and a third) to visit and examine the afflicted person. Their finding is recorded with the court, and this certi- ficate commits the insane person to the hospital." The law in Mississippi has been referred to above. In addition to these cases, the friends of an insane person may in several states, upon the presentation of a certificate of insanity signed by two or more competent physicians, secure his admission to the hospital as a "pay patient."

Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota form the last group, those having regularly constituted com- missions for the examination and commitment of the insane. In Maine the commission is composed of certain municipal or town officers. The evidence and certificates of at least two physi- cians are required.^ In Iowa and Nebraska each county has three commissioners of insanity, one of whom is the clerk of the court, one a physician, and one a lawyer, the latter two being appointed by the court and serving for two years. The com- missioners appoint a physician to examine the insane person, and the decision as to insanity and the commitment are made by them. 3 In Iowa an appeal may be taken within ten days to the circuit court. The commissions in the two Dakotas are quite similar to these, consisting of the judge of probate and a physi- cian and a lawyer appointed by the board of county commissioners and serving for two years.* Their powers and duties are the same as those of the Iowa and Nebraska commissions.

The indigent insane are usually maintained and treated in the hospitals at state expense, the costs of transporting and clothing them being at the expense of the county or political division responsible for them as paupers. In a few states all are cared for free of charge, regardless of their ability to pay.s In a few other states the whole expense is borne by the county or

"1-7, p. 1252. 32189-2198; 3336-3342-

»I3, ch. 143. ■'1513, 1530 (N. D.); 2179-2185 (S. D.).

SThis is the case in Illinois (44, ch. 23, and 15, ch. 58), Indiana (2763-2765), Minnesota (3461), North Dakota (998), and Ohio (631).