ART. 59.] LUNACY COMMISSION. 965

for treatment, whether public, corporate or private, or almshouse,
shall, within ten days after the reception of such patient or
person, make or cause to be made a description.of such case in a
book kept exclusively for the purpose; they shall also make
entries from time to time of the mental condition of such patient

or person so confined.

1886, ch. 487, sec. 35.

34. The said lunacy commission shall be vested with all the
functions and powers of law now in force relating to the office
and duties of coroner, in so far as the same may relate to cases of

death occurring in any institution in this State where insane
persons are kept.

Ibid. sec. 36.

35. Every person confined in such places as are hereinbefore
mentioned, shall be furnished at all times with paper, envelopes,
stamps, pen and ink or pencil; shall at all times have access by
correspondence with the lunacy commission, and some one other
person whom such lunatic may designate, every month, under seal,

which communication shall be forwarded by the officer, superin-
tendent or keeper, who may be in charge of such person or place;
:and any such officer, superintendent or keeper who shall fail to
forward such communication shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine or impris-
onment, in the judgment of .the court before which such case
may be tried.

Ibid. sec. 37.

36. The detention of any person in any one of the said places
or receptacles for the insane, without compliance with these
regulations, shall be a misdemeanor on the part of such person
so violating such regulations, and such person shall also be liable
for damages.

Ibid. sec. 38.

37. Any person believing himself to be mentally diseased and
approaching a state of insanity, and being advised by his attend-
ing physician that such is his condition, may voluntarily commit
himself to any lawfully authorized institution for the insane,
to be detained for the time specified by written agreement,
signed by such person in the presence of a friend or relative or