Evening Star Newspaper, December 17, 1934, Page 34

CTYLUNAGYLAVS AREHELD ARCHAE Medical Society Says Jury Hearings Work Hardships on Afflicted. Local lunacy laws, under which those suffering from mental abnormalities are confined to custodial institutions, ‘were branded as archaic today by the Medical Society of the District of Co- lumbia. A committee of the society, in co-operation with representatives of the District of Columbia Bar Asso- ciation and the Federation of Citizens’ Associations, has been working with the corporation counsel on a proposed revision of the laws which would do eway with jury trials, except in re- mote cases. According to a statement given out today by the Medical Society, “com- mitment would be decided upon by an equity judge, acting upon the recom- mendation of a commission consist- ing of two physicians and an attorney, but with the right reserved to demand a jury trial” This demand could be made either by the individual or a representative. Such practice is now prevalent in several other jurisdictions, the Medi- cal Society points out, specifying New York and Massachusetts. It is claimed that this procedure not only protects society, but makes it “much less em- barrassing for the victim of the psy- chosis.” Must Appear in Court. Under the present laws in the Dis- trict, persons mentally deranged must appear in open court, almost in the role of a criminal, the soclety points out. This is said to be an ordeal which many cannot bring themselves to face, since “there is little question that con- siderable disgrace attaches itself to mental abnormality.” Under the system proposed by the Medical Society, any person suffering from mental abnormality could appear voluntarily before the commission, be examined in private, and committed for treatment without the attendant publicity now given. The Medical Society, in making pub- lic its survey and study of existing conditions, points out that the actual jury trial at present is little more than a formality. The jurors, after hearing medical evidence, usually pass upon the case without discussion or reflec- tion, the society states. According to this report, the pres- ent lunacy procedure is a product of a time when medical knowledge and treatment of insanity was in “a very chaotic condition.” Then, all sorts of behavior abnormalities were grouped together as “insanity.” Under those conditions, any intelli- gent layman was said to be as com- petent as a physician in making a diagnosis. Distinction Not Clear. Now, all has changed. Gone is the day when there was no clear dis- tinction between mental abnormality and criminality—an archaic attitude, the society states, which is still found in some parts of the public mind. Scientific advances are said to have swept away the foundations upon which present lunacy laws of the Dis- trict were established. Both diagnosis and treatment of the psychoses have now become matters of medical spe- cialty. Psychiatry, the doctors say, no longer recognizes the term “in- sanity,” other than in it§ legal aspects. LEGION HEAD EXTENDS GREETINGS TO PRESIDENT Belgrano Also Sends Legislative Program Seeking Immediate Bonus Payment. President Roosevelt today received from Frank L. Belgrano, the newly elected commander of the American Legion, wishes for a Merry Christ- mas an da Happy New Year, and also a copy of the Legion’ legislative pro- gram, which includes immediate pay- ment of the veterans’ bonus. Belgrano, who is leaving Washing- ton tonight for his home in San Francisco, said that he preferred not | to discuss his visit at the White House other than to say that he came to pay his respects. Best Dressed MRS. WILLIAMS AGAIN ELECTED BY PARISIANS. MRS. HARRISON WILLIAMS, Society woman of New York, who was re-elected by Paris dress- makers to succeed herself as the best dressed woman in the world. The dressmakers estimate it costs each of the 12 included in the list of best dressed an average of $50,- 000 a year to maintain her parae mount place—Wide World Photo. GLENN DALE TREATS 102 CHILDREN NOW Number Increasing Each Month, Superintendent Reports to Board. There are now 102 patients under treatment at the Children’s Tubercu- losis Sanatorium at Glenn Dale, Md., which was opened in September, Dr. Daniel Leo Finucane, superintendent, reported to the Board of Public Wel- fare, During the past month the average number of patients was 77 per day, as compared with 42 in October. At the beginning of November there were 53 patients at the sanatorium. During the month 51 others were admitted, 2 were discharged and 102 remained under care at the end of the month. Since the hosptial has beds avail- able for 150 patients, it was occupied up to 68 per cent of capacity at the end of November. There have been 106 children ad- mitted to the hospital since its open- ing. Four have been discharged. None has died there. Dr. Pinucane said the newly in- stalled filtration and water treatment unit was functioning very satisfac- torily. This was set up to take iron and sand sediment out of the well water. The water is said now to have 8 lesset vermilion content than the average city water supply. N g N MARTINI &ROSSI 1 2.8.0.2.0.6.080.0886.0.08.6. 64 New Kind of Nose Drops for COLDS INSTANTLY EFFECTIVE A new combination—Vapex and ephedrine — has been found to bring a quick stop to the annoy- ance of colds. Yet despite greater effectiveness, these new nose drops never sting or irritate the delicate nasal tissues. Millions of people have used VAPEX with success. 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