Chap. 229.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 1017 of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to commissions to ascertain insanity, epilepsy and inebriety.

S B 100]

Approved March 26, 1938
1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That sec-

tion ten hundred and seventeen of the Code of Virginia be amended
and re-enacted so as to read as follows:
Section 1017. Any circuit or corporation judge, or any justice of
the peace, or trial justice of any county or city, who suspects any
person in his county or city to be insane, epileptic or inebriate, or upon
the written complaint and information of any respectable citizen, shall
issue his warrant, ordering such person to be brought before him, and
he shall summon two licensed and reputable physicians (one of whom
shall, when practicable, be the physician of the suspected person, and
neither shall in any manner be related to him or have an interest in his
estate). The judge and the two physicians, or justice and the two
physicians, shall constitute a commission to inquire whether such per-
son be insane, epileptic or inebriate and a suitable subject for a hos-
pital or colony for the care and treatment of insane, epileptic and
inebriate persons, and for that purpose the judge or the justice shall
summon witnesses. The physicians shall, in the presence of the judge
or justice (if practicable), by personal examination of such person,
and by inquiry, satisfy themselves and the judge or justice as to the
mental condition of the person being examined. If the two physicians
do not agree, a third physician shall be summoned.

The depositions of all witnesses, physicians, and so forth, shall be
taken under oath and transcribed in writing.

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