CHANCERY. 457

of such person, whether he is an habitual drunkard, incapable of taking
care of himself; and the proceedings in such case shall be like those now
authorized by law in cases of persons alleged to be lunatics or insane; and
the rules of law and proceedings now applicable to the property of lunatics
shall apply to cases of persons declared to be habitual drunkards under the
provisions of this section, except when herein otherwise directed; and any
person who may be alleged to be an habitual drunkard may dispense with
the legal proceedings to establish the same, and may, with the approbation
of the court wherein said petition may be filed, appoint his own committee,
and may voluntarily enter any institution selected by the court, for a
limited time; and the board of trustees or managers of such institution may
retain such person the length of time he may have agreed therein to remain;
and if the person against whom the petition may be filed shall be found
by the jury to be an habitual drunkard, incapable of taking care of himself,
it shall be the duty of the court to appoint a committee of such person, and
such committee shall, with the written assent and approbation of the court,
have the power of confining such person in any suitable institution, for
such length of time, as the court may, in writing, approve; but said com-
mittee, with the written assent and approbation of the court, may at any
time release from confinement said habitual drunkard, and the period of
confinement of said habitual drunkard may, by the said committee, with
the written assent and approbation of the court, be from time to time ex-
tended, for such period as may be necessary for his complete reformation;
and the words " habitual drunkard," as used in this section, shall be con-
strued to embrace any person who may be habitually addicted to the use
of alcohol, opium, cocaine, morphine or any other intoxicant.

Where the proceedings are voluntary, the committee has authority to sell and
convey property of an inebriate. On, an appeal from an order directing a private
sale of an inebriate's property, the order appointing the inebriate's committee is
not open to review. How the election by inebriate to dispense with a jury trial and
appoint his own committee, may be established. How a sale should be reported and
ratified. Tome v. Stump, 89 Md. 270.

This section referred to in construing -the act of 1894, ch. 247—see notes to
sec. 53. Baltimore v. Keeley Institute, 81 Md. 114.

As to lunatics, see arts. 59 and 44.

An. Code, sec. 52. 1904, sec. 48. 1894, ch. 247, sec. 1.

53. Any inhabitant of this State, who is of kin to or a friend of an
habitual drunkard, as defined in section 57, may petition the circuit court
for the county for the residence of such drunkard, or the circuit courts of
Baltimore city, if said habitual drunkard resides therein, for leave to
send such drunkard, at the expense of said county or city of Baltimore,
to such institution for the medical treatment of drunkenness, as the said
court may designate; which petition shall set forth the name, age and con-
dition of such habitual drunkard, and that such drunkard or those of his
kin petitioning are not financially able to incur the expense of his cure,
and shall set forth that said drunkard is willing and will agree to attend
such institution for the cure of drunkenness; which petition shall be veri-
fied by the person making such request and shall contain in addition thereto
the written agreement of such habitual drunkard to take such treatment and