ART. 59] VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT. 1483

shall also make entries from time to time of the mental condi-
tion of such patient or person so confined.

1888, art. 59, sec. 34. 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. 35. 1886, ch. 487, 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,
superintendent 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 misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject
to a fine or imprisonment, in the judgment of the court before
which such case may be tried.

Ibid, sec 36. 1886, ch 487, 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. 37. 1886, ch. 487, sec. 38.

37. Any person believing himself to be mentally diseased
and approaching a state of insanity and being advised by his
attending 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 agree-
ment, signed by such person in the presence of a friend or
relative or any disinterested person and by his attending physi-
cian for a period not exceeding three months; said contract
may be extended by renewal; but if, at the expiration of the
period of contract such person should be insane and unfit
to be discharged in the opinion of the medical superintendent,
the lunacy commission shall be duly notified in writing of the
facts and said commission shall investigate the same, and if,