CURE FOR DRUNKARDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 3, 5 January 1869, Page 3

CURE FOR DRUNKARDS.

We reprint clause 21 of the Lunatic Act passed during last Session of the Assembly, the object of which is to remedy the evils of drunkenness by subjecting habitual drunkards to curative treatment \ — If any person addicted to the habitual excessive use of intoxicating drinks, shall apply to auy 'Judge of the •■ upreme Court a"nd shall declaie before him that he is willing or desirous to submit himself to curative treatment, in order that he may be cured of such habit, such judge may, if he shall think fit, upon satisfying himself of the truth of such declaration^ by order under his hand authorise the detention and curative treatment of such person in any licensed house for any period not exceeding 12 months* or may, if he think fit, upon satisfying himself of the truth of such declaration, and with or without payment of, or the receipt of good and sufficient security for, a sum to be fixed by such ■judge for the maintenance of such person during Ins detention;, by. order under his hand authorise the detention and curative treatment of such person in any' public asylum for any period not exceeding ]2 months. If a parent, husband, wife, child, or other near relative, or any friend of any person who shall be laboring under or recovering from an attack of delirium tremens, or who withiu a period of one year immediately before the application hereiuafter meutioned, by and through the excessive use of intoxicating drinks, shall have either wasted or shall be wasting his meaus, and shall have neglected to maintain and support, his family, or shall have habitually or repeatedly threatened or used violence towards auy member of his family, shall make application in writing to any judge of the Supreme Court, and shall prove to the satisfaction of the judge by medical evidence, that such person requires curative treatment, the judge maj r j if he think fit, upon satisfying himself of the truth of the facts aforesaid, and upon proof to his satisfaction that such uotice of the application as the judge may require has been given to such person, by order uuder his hand authorise the detention and curative treatment of such person in any licensed house, for auy period not exceeding 12 months, or may, if he shall think fit, upon satisfying himself of the truth of the facts aforesaid, and with or without payment of, or the receipt of good and sufficient security for, a sum to be fixed by the judge for the maintenance of such persou during his detentiouj and upon proof to his satisfaction that such notice of the application, as the judge may require, has been given to such person, by order under his hand authorise the detention and curative treatment of such person in any public asylum for auy period not exceeding 12 months, and every such order shall, until and uuless the same be rescinded by the Supreme Court, be a sufficient authority to all persons acting under, and in conformity with, such order.