Lecture on psychiatric institutions, the Austrian law of Curatel and separate asylums for drunkenness / by Herr Director Schlangenhausen.

  • Schlangenhausen.
Date:
[1896?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lecture on psychiatric institutions, the Austrian law of Curatel and separate asylums for drunkenness / by Herr Director Schlangenhausen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/18 (page 2)
    In the first part of my lecture to-day, I shall explain the Austrian law of Curatel and its practical application to the treatment of patients. In the second part of my lec¬ ture, I shall call your attention to the care and possible cure of habitual drunkards, and I shall also endeavour to show in what manner, and by what means, the continual increase of insanity—statistically proved to exist in every civilised country in the world—can be held in check. L Although the Austrian Curatel system is by no means without defects,!I will not criticise those defects to-day; but will merely mention that it is infinitely preferable to the system of lunacy at present sanctioned by law in Eng¬ land. In accordance with the Austrian law of Curatel every person, rich or poor, without distinction of social position, who is suspected of being afflicted with mental • disturbance, must, either at the instance of the nearest relatives or of the parish authorities, if such person is being treated at home, or, on the application of the medical superintendent of an asylum, if such person is already in an asylum—be examined by a state commission, consisting of a legal adviser and two specialists in lunacy, in respect to the condition of his mind. I am anxious to accen¬ tuate the fact that these two doctors must be specially educated physicians, and must be sworn. If any person be declared irresponsible owing to mental disturbance, on the scientific report of this commission, the court appoints a ] curator or administrator for such person ; and this curator i must represent the curatee in all circumstances of life, and must uphold the curatee’s rights. If the reasons for ap¬ pointing the curator are no longer valid, and the person in { question recovers his sanity, the Curatel can be annulled on I the application of the curator, in accordance with the I official report of two specialists in lunacy. I According to my fullest conviction, only physicians