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14 Medico-Legal J. 1 (1896-1897)

handle is hein.journals/medlejo14 and id is 1 raw text is: WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH ALCOHOLIC INEBRIATES AND OTHERS APPARENTLY INSANE? BY NORMAN KERR, M. D., F. L. S. Vice-President International Congress of Medical Jurisprudence; Con- sulting Physician Dalrymple Home for the Treatment of Inebriety; President Society for the (British) Study of Inebriety; Chair- man British Medical Association Inebriates' Legislation Committee; Vice-President Medico-Legal Congross of z895. PAUPER CASES. The present English procedure with alleged lunatics or persons of unsound mind, a large proportion of whom are intemperates, though greatly improved by the Lunacy Acts of 189o and 1891, is still far from satisfactory. Some few years ago considerable and harassing experience, when certifying as to the alleged insanity of individuals stated to have been of unsound mind, nearly a third having been alcoholic inebriates, concerning whom proceedings had been taken with a view to their transfer to an asylum, first forced upon me the conclusion that a temporary detention in a special institution, for a limited period, without the sufferer being declared insane, would be a practical and happy solution of a difficult and intricate problem. Al- leged lunatics sent into the workhouse on a summary- reception order by a relieving officer, constable, or over- seer, can claim discharge on the expiry of three clear days, unless the justice declare the detinue to be a lunatic, idiot, or person of unsound mind. In these cases the jns- tice cannot legally make an order to detain the patient, Read before Medico-Legal Congress, New York, September, 1895.