Chapter LX. *to amend an Act supplementary to an Act approved March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, to organize an Institution for the Insane of the Army and Navy and of the District of Columbia in the said District, approved February the seventh, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven.* February 28, 1861. 18
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Chap. LX.— An Act *to amend an Act supplementary to an Act approved March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, to organize an Institution for the Insane of the Army and Navy and of the District of Columbia in the said District, approved February the seventh, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven.* February 28, 1861. 1855, ch. 199. Vol. x. p. 682. 1857 ch. 36. Vol. xi. p. 157. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House, of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That, as a substitute for the second section of the supplementary act aforesaid, which is hereby repealed, Act of 1857, ch. 36, § 2, repealed.
Rules for admission to Insane Asylum of the District of Columbia.the Secretary of the Interior shall have power to grant his order for the admission into the Government Hospital for the Insane of any insane person not charged with a breach of the peace, upon
(1)the certificate of any Judge of the Circuit or Criminal Court for the District of Columbia, or of any justice of the peace of the District, stating that two respectable physicians, resident of the District, appeared before said judge or justice and certified under oath, and under their bands, that they knew the person alleged to be insane, and that, from personal examination, they believed him or her to be insane and a fit subject for treatment in said hospital, and that he or she was a resident of the District at the time be or she was seized with the mental disorder under which he or she then labored; also stating that two respectable householders, residents of the District, appeared before him, the said judge or justice, and certified under oath and under their hands that they knew the person alleged to be insane, and that, from a personal examination into his or her affairs, they believe him or her to be unable to support himself or herself and family, (or himself or herself, if he or she have no family,) under the visitation of insanity, and to pay his or her board and other expenses in said hospital, and the certificate under oath of such physicians and of such householders shall accompany the certificate of such judge or justice; and
(2)upon an application requesting that such order may be issued, made in writing, within five days after the date of the affidavits aforesaid, by a member of the Board of Visitors of said hospital, upon an inspection of said affidavits and certificate thereto, and it will be the duty of said visitor to withhold his application if he has reason to doubt the indigence of the party in whose behalf the application is desired, till such doubt is removed by testimony satisfactory to said visitor. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That, if it shall appear in the case Proceedings when insane persons have property.of any insane person whose insanity commenced while he or she was a resident of the District of Columbia that he or she is able to defray a portion but not the whole of the expenses of his or her support and treatment in the Government Hospital for the Insane, then the Board of Visitors of the said hospital is authorized to inquire into the facts of the case; and if it shall appear to said board, upon such inquiry, that such insane person has property and no family, or more property than is required for the support of his or her family, then, as a condition upon which such insane person, admitted or to be admitted upon the order of the Secretary of the Interior, shall receive or continue to receive the benefits of said hospital, there shall be paid to the Superintendent from the income, property, or estate of such insane person such portion of his expenses in said hospital as a majority of the said board shall determine to be just and reasonable, under all the circumstances. Approved, February 28, 1861.