Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/82
mitted to the hospitals along with the insane. In Vermont they may be committed like the insane to the hospital or to private institutions for the cure of drunkenness.[1] Massachusetts has established a state institution for the treatment of such cases, the laws relating to the commitment and support of the insane applying.[2] Pennsylvania authorizes the counties to establish hospitals in connection with the workhouses, and to commit all inebriates for a course of treatment of from six months to two years, the indigents to be committed at the expense of the county.[3] In Michigan and Wisconsin they are to be committed to some private asylum, if indigent at public expense.[4] The commitment in the former state is to be for not longer than thirty days; the cost of treatment in the latter, not greater than $130. In Louisiana the judge of the district court may, upon the application of the relatives of an indigent drunkard, who has lost the power of "reasonable self-control," commit him at the expense of the parish to some institution for treatment, provided, however, that the institution will agree to cure the inebriate at a cost not to exceed $100.[5] Minnesota has provided for the commitment of drunkards to a special department of the state hospital for the insane.[6] She also authorizes the county judge to commit drunkards to some institution to take the "gold cure, "the cost of treatment not to exceed $100.[7] And, lastly, California has authorized certain counties holding lands reserved for that purpose to erect hospitals for the inebriate.[8]
VI. CONSUMPTIVES AND TUBERCULAR PATIENTS.
Massachusetts, always leading in providing for the care of the indigent and for the treatment of the defective, has established a state hospital for consumptives and tubercular patients. The laws (except as to commitment) relating to the insane apply here also.[9]
Good management of state institutions is necessary for effi-