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MASSACHUSETTS
(; ENERAL H () SPITAL,
A CTS, RE SOLVES, BY-LAWS,
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
B O S T O N :
1 8 A, 6.
F. A. S T B U R N S P R E S S .
MASSACHUSETTS
(HENERAL HOS PITAL,
A CTS, RE SO L V E S, BY-L AWS,
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
B O S T O N :
1 84 6.
JE A S T B U R N S P R. E. S. S.
ACTS AND RESOLVEs.
[1810, c. 94.]
An Act to incorporate certain persons by the name of The Mas-
sachusetts General Hospital.
SECT. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same: That James Bowdoin, John Ad-
ams, Elbridge Gerry, Theophilus Parsons, William Gray,
John Thornton Kirkland, Harrison Gray Otis, Christopher
Gore, William Eustis, William Phillips, John Quincy Ad-
ams, Henry Dearborn, Levi Lincoln, Isaac Parker, Joseph
B. Warnum, George Cabot, Perez Morton, Thomas Dawes,
Thomas Hazard, jun., Thomas Cutts, Israel Thorndike,
Matthew Bridge, Samuel Brown, James Perkins, David
Tilden, John Lowell, Samuel Dana, Joseph Story, William
King, Samuel Fowler, Marshall Spring, Thomas H. Per-
kins, Thomas C. Amory, Benjamin Bussey, Aaron Hill,
William Heath, Thomas Kittredge, James Prince, Benja-
min Greene, Thomas Melville, Joseph Coolidge, Elias H.
Derby, John C. Jones, Jonathan Davis, Jonathan Harris,
James Mann, Timothy Childs, Daniel Kilham, Benjamin
Crowninshield, Arnold Welles, Jonathan Amory, Robert
Hallowell, Andrew Cragie, John Warren, Richard Sulli-
van, and William Payne, together with such other per-
sons, as may hereafter be admitted members of the Cor-
poration hereinafter created, according to the By-laws
thereof, be, and they hereby are incorporated and made a
4.
body corporate and politic, by the name of THE MAss A-
CHUSETTs GENERAL HospitaL, and by that name may sue
and be sued, and shall have and use a common seal, to be
by them devised, altered and renewed at their pleasure.
SECT. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said
Corporation may take and receive, hold, purchase and
possess, of and from all persons disposed to aid the bene-
volent purposes of this institution, any grants and devises
of lands and tenements, in fee simple, or otherwise, and
any donations and bequests, and subscriptions of money,
or other property, to be used and improved for the erec-
tion, support and maintenance of a General Hospital, for
sick and insane persons. Provided, that the income of
said Corporation, from its real and personal estate together,
do at no time exceed the sum of thirty thousand dollars.
[SECT. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be in the power of
the Legislature of this Commonwealth, or of any committee or officer,
duly appointed by them for that purpose, to introduce into the said Hos-
pital, all such lunatic and sick persons, as may hereafter be chargeable to
this Commonwealth, and who would otherwise receive support and medi-
cal and other necessary aid and assistance, at the expense of the public
Treasury, as soon as said Hospital may be in readiness, and to have pro-
vided for them therein suitable apartments, bed-clothing, board, and mur-
ses, and the most skilful medical advice, free of all cost to the Common-
wealth, and at the sole charge of the funds of the Corporation. Provided,
the whole number of patients so received into said Hospital, at the request
of the Legislature, or of officers appointed by them for that purpose, shall
at no one time exceed thirty, unless the Trustees of said Corporation shall
consent to the admission of a further number of the State's poor.”]
SECT. 4. And be it further enacted, That in consider-
ation of the obligation aforesaid imposed upon said Corpo-
ration in the foregoing section, the estate commonly call-
ed the Old Province House, with all the lands under and
appurtenant to the same, be and are hereby given and
granted unto said Corporation in fee simple, to be sold
at the discretion of said Corporation, and the proceeds
thereof to be held and applied, as a foundation of a Gene-
ral Hospital. Provided, however, that before such sale
shall be made, the said Corporation shall give bond to the
* Repealed 1813, c. 42, § 1.
5
Treasurer of this Commonwealth, with surety or sureties,
to be approved of by His Excellency the Governor and
Council, for the time being, that the proceeds of said sale,
with the interest thereon, shall be paid into the Treasury,
for the use of the Commonwealth, within five years” from
the passing of this act, unless an additional sum of one
hundred thousand dollars shall have been raised and pro-
vided by private subscriptions or donations, other than
grants from the Commonwealth for the purposes of this
act. tº
SECT. 5. Be it further enacted, That the said General
Hospital shall be under the direction and management of
twelve Trustees, who shall be chosen annually, and shall
remain in office until others are chosen and qualified in
their stead; four of which Trustees shall be chosen by
the Board of Visitors, and the remaining eight by the Cor-
poration aforesaid.}
SECT. 6. And be it further enacted, That the said
Corporation may at their first, or any subsequent meeting,
choose all necessary and convenient officers, who shall
have such powers and authorities as the said Corporation
may think proper to prescribe and grant to them, and who
shall be elected in such manner, and for such periods of
time, as the by-laws of the said Corporation may pro-
vide. And said Corporation may further make and estab-
lish such by-laws and regulations, for the internal govern-
ment and economy of the Hospital, as they may think
proper, not repugnant to the Constitution and Laws of
this Commonwealth.
SECT. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Gov-
ernor, Lieutenant Governor, the President of the Senate,
and Speaker of the House of Representatives, with the
Chaplains of both Houses, for the time being, be, and
hereby are made and constituted a Board of Visitors of the
said Hospital; with authority to visit the same semi-annu-
ally, and as much oftener as they may think proper, in
* Further time allowed, 1813, c. 42, § 2. # 1819, c. 31.
6
order to inspect the establishment, and the actual condition
of the sick, to examine the by-laws and regulations enact-
ed by said Corporation, [and if they see fit to disallow and annul
the same,”] and generally to see that the design of the insti-
tution be carried into effect, in a careful, tender and effec-
tual manner; and especially to see that the State has its
full proportion of patients in the Hospital, as provided in
the third section of this act, and that the said patients are
suitably attended to, and comfortably maintained.
SECT. 8. And be it further enacted, by the authority
aforesaid, That in case of the separation of the District of
Maine, and the erection of it into a separate State, pursu-
ant to the provisions of the Constitution of the United
States, the amount of the sale of the Province House shall
be carried into the estimate, with the other public proper-
ty of the Commonwealth.
SECT. 9. And be it further enacted, That it shall be
lawful for the Corporation, at any general meeting of the
members thereof, to alter or change the name of said Cor-
poration, either by substituting the name of any distin-
guished benefactor, who may contribute a sum exceeding
the amount given by the Commonwealth, or by adding
the name of such benefactor, to the name given to said
Corporation by this act, in case the sum so given by such
benefactor, shall not exceed the sum given by the Com-
monwealth. And upon such change so as aforesaid made,
the said Corporation shall have a right to assume and take
such name, and shall have, hold and enjoy all the powers
and privileges given by this act, notwithstanding such
alteration and change.
SECT. 10. And be it further enacted, That James Bow-
doin, Esq. be, and hereby is authorized to call the first
meeting of said Corporation, by notification, and therein to
appoint the time and place of said meeting: Provided, that
no notification shall be deemed valid, unless it be publish-
* Repealed, 1813, c. 42, § 3.
7
ed in all the newspapers printed in Boston, for six weeks
in succession.
[Sect. 11. Be it further enacted, That the Legislature shall have power
to alter, amend, or repeal this act, whenever they shall be of opinion that
the public good may require it; Provided, that no such alteration, amend-
ment or repeal, shall be made in such manner as to revest in the Common-
wealth, the grant herein made, or the proceeds thereof, after a private sub-
scription for the purposes of this act shall have been actually commenced.
SECT. 12. Be it further enacted, That the said Hospital may be erected
in any place not included within the territorial limits of the town of
Boston.”]
[This act passed Feb. 25, 1811.]
[1813, c. 42.]
An Act in addition to an Act, entitled “An Act to incorporate
certain persons by the name of The Massachusetts General
Hospital,” passed February 25th, A. D. 1811. -
SECT. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same, That the third section of the act,
incorporating certain persons by the name of the Massa-
chusetts General Hospital, be, and the same is hereby re-
pealed; [and that in lieu of the obligation therein imposed, the said
Corporation shall be held and obliged to appropriate out of its funds, annu-
ally forever, to the support and maintenance of such sick, poor and luna-
tic persons, as may be received into said Hospital at the request of the
Legislature, or of any committee or officer appointed as the Legislature
may hereafter provide for the purpose, a sum equal to simple interest on
the money, for which the Province House estate shall be sold ; and until
the sale thereof, the said Corporation shall be held to keep a correct ac-
count of the rents received, to be applied to the maintenance of sick, poor
and lunatic persons, who would otherwise be chargeable to the Common-
wealth, as soon as the Hospital shall be erected. And in case the said
estate shall revert to the Commonwealth, as by the former and present acts
is provided, the amount of said rents shall be paid into the Treasury of the
Commonwealth.f]
* Repealed 1813, c. 42, § 4. f Repealed, Resolve 1815, c. 171.
8
SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That a further time
of five years, from the twenty-fifth day of February,
eighteen hundred and sixteen, be allowed and granted to
said Corporation, to raise by private subscriptions or dona-
tions, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for the
purposes of their institution, without prejudice to the
grant contained in the fourth section of said act.
SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That so much of the
seventh section of said act, as empowers the Board of Wis-
itors of said Hospital to disallow and annul the by-laws of
said Corporation, be, and the same is hereby repealed.
SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That the eleventh
and twelfth sections of said act be, and the same are here-
by repealed.
[This act passed June 14, 1813.]
[1818, c. 158.]
An Act in addition to an Act, entitled “An Act to incorporate
The Massachusetts General Hospital.”
SECT. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same, That the Massachusetts General
Hospital be, and the said Corporation hereby is authorized
to grant annuities on the life or lives of one or more per-
sons, or for shorter terms of time, on such conditions, and
with such security, as the said Corporation and the annui-
tant or annuitants, may agree upon.
SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That if at any time
hereafter it shall appear to the Legislature, that the privi-
lege of granting annuities, hereby given to the said Cor-
poration, shall be injurious to the public welfare, the
power of the Legislature to repeal this act, authorizing
such annuities, shall not be denied or impaired ; but such
9.
repeal shall not effect any engagement to which said
Corporation may have become a party previous thereto.
And it shall be the duty of the Trustees of the said Mas-
sachusetts General Hospital, to transmit to the Governor
and Council of this Commonwealth, for the time being,
annually, on the first Monday in January of each year,
an accurate account of all annuities by them sold or
granted, by virtue of this act, signed by the Trustees, or
a major part of them, and attested by the Treasurer of the
Corporation. -
[This act passed February 24, 1814.]
[1815, c. 171.]
Resolve on the petition of the Massachusetts General Hospital
Corporation, relative to the sale of the old Province House.
13th February, 1816.
On the petition of the Massachusetts General Hospital
Corporation, praying for a modification of the condition,
on which the said Corporation is authorized by law to sell
or otherwise dispose of the estate called the old Province
House. tº
Resolved, For reasons set forth in said petition, that
the authority which the said Corporation now have by
law to sell and dispose of said estate, and to apply the
proceeds thereof as a fund for a General Hospital, shall be
subject to the sole condition, that before a sale of said es-
tate be made, the said Corporation shall give bond to the
Treasurer of the Commonwealth, with surety or sureties,
to be approved by his Excellency the Governor and Coun-
cil, for the time being, conditioned, that the proceeds of
said sale, with the interest thereon, shall be paid into the
Treasury for the use of the Commonwealth, within one
year from the date of such sale, unless an additional sum
of one hundred thousand dollars shall have been raised by
2
10
private subscription, or donation, for the purpose of the
Hospital; any thing contained in the act, entitled an act to
incorporate certain persons by the name of the Massachu-
setts General Hospital, and an act in addition thereto,
passed in June, eighteen hundred and thirteen, to the
contrary notwithstanding.
[1817, c. 25.]
Resolve on the Memorial of the Trustees of the Massachusetts
General Hospital. June 12, 1817.
Resolved, That the stone to be employed in the erec-
tion of the Massachusetts General Hospital, shall be ham-
mered and fitted for use, so far as the same can be done,
by the convicts at the State Prison of this Common-
wealth, in such manner as the Trustees of said Institution
for the time being, or their agent may request, free of
expense to said Corporation, as soon as may be, after such
stone shall be delivered at said Prison wharf, for that pur-
pose : Provided, that nothing herein contained, shall be
so construed as to prevent or retard the fulfilment of any
existing contract for stone work, with any other person or
persons whatever. And provided, also, that the materials to
be worked, shall be delivered free of expense to the Com-
monwealth, at such part of the Prison limits as the War-
den may direct, and removed from thence when directed
by the Warden, also free of expense to the State.
11
[1817, c. 180.]
An Act to incorporate the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance
Company.
SECT. 5. A proviso, That no part of the capital stock
aforesaid, shall be divided without the assent of the Visi-
tors and Trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital,
as well as of the Legislature of this Commonwealth.
SECT. 7. That the President and Directors shall, on
the first Monday of January, in each year, direct the
books of the said Corporation to be balanced and settled
up to the thirty-first day of the preceding December, and
submit a copy of its balances to a committee appointed by
the Trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital, who
shall have power to verify the said balances with the
books of the said, Corporation, and generally to inspect
them ; and on the third Monday of January of every year,
the President and Directors of this Corporation shall pay
over to the said Trustees, for the use of the Hospital, one
third of the net profits which shall have arisen from the
insurance on lives, made during the preceding year; #:
#: #: * Provided, that in case the Trustees of
the Hospital fail to signify to this Corporation its appoint-
ment of a committee, that then the President of this Cor-
poration shall invite the President of the Hospital to
inspect the books, and submit to him the list of balances,
and pay him, for the use of the Hospital, the aforesaid third
of the net profits which shall have arisen from the insur-
ance on lives.
SECT. 8. That so long as this Corporation shall well
and truly pay to the General Hospital the aforesaid share
of profit, it shall not be lawful for any persons or Cor-
poration within the Commonwealth, to make insurance
on lives upon land, unless empowered so to do, by any
future Legislature of this Commonwealth. And when-
ever any persons or Corporation shall hereafter be thus
12
empowered, the obligation of this Corporation, to pay the
Trustees of the General Hospital, for the use of said Hos-
pital, the third part of the net profits, which may there-
after arise on insurance on lives, shall cease ; unless the
same obligation shall be imposed on such persons or Cor-
poration thus hereafter empowered.
[This act passed February 24, 1818.]
[1819, c. 31.]
An Act relating to the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, That in case of the occurring of any vacancy,
by death or resignation, in the Board of Trustees of the
Massachusetts General Hospital, it shall be lawful for the
remaining members of the Board to fill such vacancy, pro-
vided the same shall occur in that part of the Board chosen
by the Corporation; and it shall be lawful for the Board of
Visitors to fill such vacancy, provided the same occur in
that part of the Board chosen by said Board of Visitors,
anything in the fifth section of the act, entitled, “An act
to incorporate certain persons by the name of the Mas-
sachusetts General Hospital,” to the contrary notwith-
standing.
[This act passed June 18, 1819.]
[1820, c. 82.]
An Act to exempt certain officers of the Massachusetts General
Hospital from militia duty.
[Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General
Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the
passing of this act, the superintendent and other officers and assistants,
13
employed in and about any department of the Massachusetts General Hos-
pital, not exceeding the number of four in each department, during the
time of such employment, be, and they hereby are absolutely exempted
from militia duty, notwithstanding they may have arrived at the age of
eighteen, and be under the age of forty-five years.”]
[This act passed February 15, 1821.]
[1823, c. 51.]
An Act in further addition to an Act to incorporate the Massa-
chusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company.
SECT. 2. That the agreement entered into, between
the Trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the
Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company, in words
following, to wit –“ That the Trustees of the Massa-
chusetts General Hospital, do agree to receive one third
part of the net profits accruing to said Company from
insurance on lives by sea and on land, reversionary pay-
ments, and generally from all kinds of contracts in which
the casualties and contingencies of life, and the interest of
money are principally involved, after deducting for the
use of the said stockholders, legal interest on the amount of
capital actually paid in by them and invested in pur-
suance of the provisions of their said act, said interest not
being calculated on any part of the profits of said stock;
Provided, the said Insurance Company shall bind itself
in writing, to pay over annually to the Trustees of the
Massachusetts General Hospital, for the use of said Hos-
pital, one third part of all their net profits, computed on
the principle above stated, as well in reversionary pay-
ments and all other contracts made by said Company, in
which the casualties of life and interest of money are prin-
cipally concerned, as on insurances on lives, which alone
are mentioned in the seventh section of the act to which
this is in addition,” be, and the same is hereby confirmed.
[This act passed January 17, 1824.]
* Repealed by Revised Statutes.
14
[1823, c. 50.]
Resolve on the subject of labor done by the convicts for Insane
Hospital. February 11, 1824.
Resolved, That the account of the Massachusetts State
Prison against the Massachusetts General Hospital, for
labor of the convicts on stone work for that part of said
Hospital, commonly called the Insane Hospital, amount-
ing to four thousand one hundred and seventy-six dollars
and forty-three cents, be considered as coming within the
resolve of the General Court on this subject, passed June
12th, 1817; and that said sum be charged to the Com-
monwealth accordingly, and that the work heretofore done,
be, and the same is hereby considered in full of the grant
made by virtue of the resolve aforesaid.
[Revised Statutes, c. 12, § 1.]
The superintendents, other officers and assistants, em-
ployed in or about any department of the Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston and Charlestown, and in the
State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester, during the time of
such employment, are exempted from military duty.
[1835, c. 109.]
An Act to incorporate the New England Mutual Life Insurance
Company.
SECT. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same, That Ebenezer T. Andrews,
George Bond, Willard Phillips, Charles P. Curtis, and
15
Samuel H. Walley, jr., and the persons who may he in-
sured under this act, and their associates, successors, and
assigns, be, and they hereby are constituted a Corporation
by the name of the New England Mutual Life Insurance
Company, for the purpose of making insurance upon
lives, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to
all the duties contained in an act passed in eighteen hun-
dred and thirty-three, chapter eighty-three.
SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That there shall be
an original guaranty capital stock subscribed to the said
Corporation, which shall be $100,000, to be divided into
shares by the Corporation, half of which shall be paid in,
in cash, before the said Corporation, shall go into opera-
tion, for the purpose of making insurance; the other
half of said stock may be called for by the Directors, from
time to time, when they deem it necessary or expedient,
and shall be paid in by the holders of the stock, which
shall always stand pledged to the Corporation for all such
assessments so called for.
SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That, at the first meet-
ing of the Corporation, a number of Directors, not less
than eight, shall be chosen by the subscribers to the said
guaranty stock, who shall hold their offices for one year,
and until others are chosen in their stead; at all subse-
quent elections of Directors, the number shall be such as
may be provided for, by a previous vote of the Directors,
or by-law of the Corporation; and, in case of no provision
on this subject, the number shall be the same as at the
first election, one half of whom shall be elected by the
stockholders, and the other half by the assured, voting in
separate bodies; the Directors shall all be either stockhold-
ers or assured, and on ceasing to be such, shall cease to hold
said office. The Directors may choose a President from
their own number, or from the stockholders, or the assur-
ed, in which case he shall be a Director ea officio. They
shall also choose a Secretary, who shall be under oath,
and they shall appoint all such officers and servants to
transact the business of the Corporation, as they see fit.
16
Each share of the guaranty capital stock shall entitle the
holder to one vote, and each assured shall be entitled to
one vote in the election of Directors. In case of vacan-
cies in the Board of Directors, so as to reduce the number
to less than six, meetings of the Corporation shall be held,
and the vacancies shall be filled so as to make the Board
consist of a greater number than six.
SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That, except the elec-
tion of Directors, and except the vote of the assured, pro-
vided for in the sixth section, the whole business and
affairs of the Corporation shall be under the control and
management of the Directors.
SECT. 5. Be it further enacted, That, whenever the
net surplus receipts of the Corporation over their losses
and expenses, and after providing for risks, shall be suffi-
cient for the purpose, the stockholders shall be entitled to
an annual dividend of seven per centum, or to such less
dividend as may be agreed upon at the time of subscribing
the stock, and in the case of such dividend not being
made in any one year, it shall be made good at a subse-
quent period, when the net resources of the Company
shall be sufficient for paying the same.
SECT. 6. Be it further enacted, That, after providing
for risks, losses, incidental expenses, and dividends, as
aforesaid, the Directors shall set apart one quarter of the
estimated surplus funds and receipts, as a reserved fund,
to be applied to the redemption of the guaranty stock;
and whenever, after the expiration of ten years from the
time of organizing the Company, the amount of such re-
served fund shall be sufficient for the purpose, and the
assured shall vote to redeem the said guaranty stock, the
same shall be redeemed.
SECT. 7. Be it further enacted, That, upon the re-
demption and extinguishment of the guaranty stock, under
the provision in section sixth, the Directors shall be cho-
sen by the assured.
SECT. 8. Be it further enacted, That at the expi-
ration of every period of five years, from the time of the
17
organization of the Company, the remaining three quar-
ters of the estimated surplus funds and receipts shall be
reimbursed to, and among the assured in manner follow-
ing, namely; to the holders of policies for entire lives,
each of which is insured at an uniform annual premium
for the whole life, in the proportion of the whole amount
of premiums paid during the preceding five years, and in
a corresponding and equivalent proportion upon policies
made otherwise than at such uniform rate of premium ;
that is to say, the reimbursement shall be made in the
same proportion, as if each policy subsisting at the end of
each five years had been made at its commencement for an
entire life, at an uniform annual rate of premium : provided
however, that the reimbursement to the holder of any poli-
cy shall not be estimated upon a greater amount than
shall have been actually paid in, on such policy: provided
further, that in consideration of any existing policies hav-
ing at the expiration of any such period of five years con-
tributed, directly or indirectly, to the fund for the redemp-
tion of the guaranty stock, a provision may be made
allowing a greater proportion of reimbursement on such
policies, and preferring those of an older date, before those
of a more recent date ; so that each policy shall, so far as
may be, consistently with the circumstances of the Com-
pany, be reimbursed for the amount contributed as afore-
said to the redemption of the guaranty stock.
SECT. 9. Be it further enacted, That the said Corpo-
ration shall, on the third Monday of January of every
year, pay over to the Trustees of the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Hospital, one third of the net profits, if any, which
shall have arisen from insurance on lives, made during
the preceding year.
SECT. 10. Be it further enacted, That the Supreme
Judicial Court shall hear and determine in equity all ques-
tions arising between the said Corporation and any stock-
holder or assured.
[This act passed April 1st, 1835.]
3
18
[1844, c. 80.]
An Act in addition to an Act to incorporate the New England
Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows :
The New England Mutual Life Insurance Company is
hereby authorized to make insurance on lives otherwise
than on the mutual principle.
[This act passed March 11, 1844.]
[1844, c. 177.]
An Act to incorporate the State Mutual Life Assurance Company
- at Worcester.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of
the same, as follows :
SECT. 1. John Davis, Benjamin Balch, and Clarendon
Harris, their associates and successors, are hereby made a
Corporation by the name of the State Mutual Life Assur-
ance Company of Worcester, for the purpose of making
assurances on single lives, joint lives and survivorships,
and for making reversionary payments, on the principle
of mutual contribution and mutual participation in the
surplus funds, or otherwise, with all the powers and pri-
vileges, and subject to all the duties and liabilities, con-
tained in the thirty-seventh and forty-fourth chapters of
the Revised Statutes, so far as the same may be applica-
ble to this Corporation.
SECT. 2. When one hundred and fifty persons have
subscribed to become members of the said company, by
19
being assured for one or more years, or for the whole
term of life, the first meeting may be called for the pur-
pose of organizing the corporation, but only one half of
the whole number of directors shall then be chosen.
Immediately after such organization, books shall be
opened for the subscription of a guarantee capital of one
hundred thousand dollars, to be divided into shares by the
corporation thus organized, half of which shall be paid in
cash, or secured as hereinafter provided for its investment,
before the said corporation shall go into operation for the
purpose of making assurances; the other half of said
stock may be called for by the directors so elected, from
time to time, when they deem it necessary or expedient,
and shall be paid in by the holders of the stock, which
shall always stand pledged to the corporation for all such
assessments so called for, and said stock shall be entitled
to an annual dividend not exceeding seven per centum on
the amount paid in.
SECT. 3. As soon as such amount of stock shall be so
subscribed and paid in, as aforesaid, or made secure, a
meeting shall be called of the said stockholders, and they
shall elect from their own number, the remaining half of
the first board of directors; and at every future election
of directors, until the guarantee stock shall be redeemed,
one half the number shall be selected from the assured,
and the other half from the stockholders, all to be chosen
jointly. -
SECT. 4. The funds of the said company shall be in-
vested in the stocks of the United States, of the State of
Massachusetts, of the City of Boston, and in notes secured
by bond and mortgage of unincumbered real estate in
Massachusetts, worth three times the amount loaned
thereon. -
The said company may hold real estate to an amount
not exceeding ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of Se-
curing suitable offices for the institution. •
SECT. 5. At the expiration of every three years after
20
the expiration of the first year, there shall be a general in-
vestigation of the affairs of the company for the past three
years, with an estimate of the surplus funds, which may
remain after providing for all risks, losses and incidental
expenses. If it shall appear after the investigation, that
there is a surplus fund more than equivalent to the
amount of debts and claims against the funds, one third
of the estimated surplus funds and receipts shall be set
aside, with its accumulations, as a reserved fund, to be
applied to the redemption of the guarantee stock; and
whenever, after the expiration of ten years from the time
of organizing the corporation, the amount of such reserved
funds shall be sufficient for the purpose, and the assured
shall vote to redeem the said guarantee stock, the same
shall be redeemed. The remaining two thirds of the es-
timated surplus funds shall be equitably divided among
the existing policies, for one or more years, or for the
whole term of life, in proportion to the respective amounts
of premium each has paid, either by single contribution,
or by uniform annual contributions, and allocated to the
original sum insured, as a bonus, or reversionary addition,
payable when the policy emerges and becomes a claim.
SECT. 6. Within thirty days after the expiration of
four years from the time of organizing the company, and
within thirty days after the expiration of every subse-
quent three years, the company shall cause to be made a
general balance statement of the affairs of the said com-
pany, which shall be entered in a book prepared for such
purpose. Such statement shall contain—
1st. The amount of contributions received during the
said period, and the amount of interest received from in-
vestments and loans.
2d. The amount of expenses of the said company dur-
ing the same period.
3d. The amount of losses incurred during the same
period.
4th. The balance remaining with the said company.
21
5th. The nature of the security in which the said bal-
ance is invested or loaned, and the amount of cash on
hand, and the aggregate amount of the sums assured in
the existing policies.
6th. The president or vice president of the company
shall, within thirty days after the balance statement is
made up, transmit a copy thereof, signed and sworn to
by the president and vice president, and a majority of
the directors, and also by the auditor, actuary or secretary,
to the secretary of the Commonwealth, to be by him laid
before the legislature.
SECT. 7. The said corporation shall, on the third Mon-
day of January, every year, pay over to the trustees of the
Massachusetts General Hospital, one third of the net
profits, if any, which shall have arisen from insurance on
lives made during the preceding year.
SECT. 8. So long as this corporation shall well and
truly pay to the General Hospital the aforesaid share of
profit, it shall not be lawful for any persons or corporation
within the Commonwealth, to make insurance on lives
upon land, unless empowered so to do, by any future legis-
lature of this Commonwealth. And whenever any per-
son or corporation shall hereafter be thus empowered, the
obligation of this corporation to pay the trustees of the
General Hospital, for the use of said hospital, the third
part of the net profits which may thereafter arise on in-
surance on lives, shall cease, unless the same obligation
shall be imposed upon such persons or corporation thus
hereafter empowered.
[This act passed March 16, 1844.]
22
[1845, c. 240.]
An Act to incorporate the Bowditch Mutual Life Assurance
Company. -
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
SECT. 1. Josiah Stickney, Addison Gilmore, and
Charles Scudder, their associates and successors, are here-
by made a corporation, by the name of the Bowditch
Mutual Life Assurance Company, to be established in the
City of Boston, for the purpose of making assurances on
single lives, joint lives and survivorships, and for making
reversionary payments on the principle of mutual contri-
bution and mutual participation in the surplus funds or
otherwise, with all the powers and privileges, and sub-
ject to all the duties, and liabilities, contained in the thirty-
seventh and forty-fourth chapters of the Revised Stat-
utes, so far as the same may be applicable to this corpo-
ration. -
SECT. 2. When one hundred and fifty persons have
subscribed to become members of the company by being
assured for one or more years, or for the whole term of
life, the first meeting may be called for the purpose of or-
ganizing the corporation, but only one half of the whole
number of directors shall then be chosen.
Immediately after such organization, books shall be
opened for the subscription of a guaranty capital stock for
one hundred thousand dollars, to be divided into shares
by the corporation, half of which shall be paid in, in
cash, before the said corporation shall go into operation
for the purpose of making assurances; the other half of
said stock may be called for by the directors, from time
to time, when they deem it necessary or expedient, and
shall be paid in by the holders of the stock, which shall
always stand pledged to the corporation for all such as-
sessments so called for, and said stock shall be entitled
23
to an annual dividend not exceeding seven per centum on
the amount paid in. -
SECT. 3. As soon as such amount of stock shall be so
subscribed and paid in, as aforesaid, a meeting shall be
called of the said stockholders, and they shall elect, from
their own number, the remaining half of the first board of
directors; and at every future election of directors, until
the guaranty stock shall be redeemed, one half the num-
ber shall be selected from the assured for the whole term
of life, and the other half from the stockholders; all to be
chosen jointly. -
SECT. 4. The funds of the company shall be invested
in the stocks of the United States, of the State of Massa-
chusetts, of the City of Boston, and in notes secured by
mortgage of unincumbered real estates in Massachusetts,
worth twice the amount loaned thereon.
The corporation may hold real estate to an amount not
exceeding thirty thousand dollars, for the purpose of se-
curing suitable offices for the institution. - -
SECT. 5. At the expiration of every three years, after
the expiration of the first year, there shall be a general in-
vestigation of the affairs of the company for the past
three years, with an estimate of the surplus funds which
may remain after providing for all risks, losses, and inci-
dental expenses. If it shall appear, after the investiga-
tion, that there is a surplus fund more than equivalent to
the amount of debts and claims against the funds, one
third of the estimated surplus funds and receipts shall be
set aside, with its accumulations, as a reserved fund, to be
applied to the redemption of the guarantee stock; and
whenever, after the expiration of ten years from the time
of organizing the corporation, the amount of such reserved
funds shall be sufficient for the purpose, and the assured
shall vote to redeem the said guarantee stock, the same
shall be redeemed.
The remaining two-thirds of the estimated surplus
funds shall be equitably divided among the existing poli-
24
cies, for one or more years, or for the whole term of life,
either by single contribution, or by uniform annual con-
tributions, and allocated to the original sum assured, as a
bonus, or reversionary addition, payable when the policy
emerges and becomes a claim.
SECT. 6. Within thirty days after the expiration of
four years from the time of organizing the company, and
within thirty days after the expiration of every subse-
quent three years, the company shall cause to be made a
general balance statement of the affairs of the said com-
pany, which shall be entered in a book prepared for that
purpose. Such statement shall contain,_ <!
1st. The amount of contributions received during the
said period, and the amount of interest received from in-
vestments and loans.
2d. The amount of expenses of the said company
during the same period.
3d. The amount of losses incurred during the same
period.
4th. The balance remaining with said company.
5th. The nature of the security in which the said bal-
ance is invested or loaned, and the amount of cash on
hand, and the aggregate amount of the sums assured in
the existing policies. -
6th. The president of the company shall, within thirty
days after the balance statement is made up, transmit a
copy thereof, signed and sworn to by the president and a
majority of the directors, and also by the auditor or audi-
tors, and countersigned by the secretary of the company,
to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to be by him laid
before the Legislature.
SECT. 7. The said corporation shall, on the third
Monday of January, every year, pay over to the trustees of
the Massachusetts General Hospital one third of the net
profits, if any, which shall have arisen from insurance
on lives made during the preceding year.
SECT. 8. Whenever any persons or corporation shall
25
hereafter be empowered to make insurance on lives upon
land, the obligation of this corporation to pay the trustees
of the Massachusetts General Hospital, for the use of
said hospital, the third part of the net profits which may
thereafter arise on insurance on lives, shall cease, unless
the same obligation shall be imposed on such persons or
corporations thus hereafter empowered.
SECT. 9. No policy issued by said company, shall be
binding, beyond the term of time for which the premium
thereon, has been fully paid in advance, in cash only; and
these conditions shall be expressed in all the policies of
said company.
[This Act passed March 26, 1845.]
B Y - L. A. W S
OF
T H E C O R P O R. A.T. I O N .
ART. 1. The Corporation shall be composed of the per-
sons named in the “Act incorporating certain persons by
the name of the Massachusetts General Hospital;” of all
persons who have been or may be Trustees; of such
persons who have been, or may be, at any legal meeting of
the Corporation, nominated and elected members by bal-
lot at the same or any other legal meeting ; and of
all such persons as have given or subscribed, or may give
or subscribe, one hundred dollars and upwards, or any
article or property of the value of one hundred dollars and
upwards to the Institution : and each member shall be
entitled to one vote.
ART. 2. There shall be a meeting of the Corporation
on the fourth Wednesday of January in every year, to be
called the Annual Meeting, at which the following officers
shall be chosen by ballot, viz: a President, Vice Presi-
dent, eight Trustees, a Treasurer, and a Secretary, to
serve one year, and until others shall be chosen and qual-
ified in their stead.
ART. 3. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given
by the Secretary in one or more newspapers printed in
Boston at least fourteen days previous to the day of meet-
ing :-provided, that any meeting may be continued by
adjournment from time to time, until the business thereof
shall be accomplished ; the Secretary giving at least one
27
day’s notice of the time and place of said adjournment in
a newspaper printed in Boston.
ART. 4. There shall be two separate departments of
the Institution, the one to be called “The Hospital,” and
the other “The McLean Asylum for the Insane;” into
which respectively shall be admitted all such sick, lame,
wounded and insane persons, as the Board of Trustees or
their authorized committees shall from time to time deter-
mine to be fit subjects therefor; and it being the design
of the Institution to afford the most extensive relief, and
as far as possible to reach the necessities of every class of
persons, the benefits of it shall be administered to all who
stand in need, at as low a rate as practicable.
ART. 5. The President shall preside at all meetings at
which he may attend, and shall have power to order spe-
cial meetings, whenever in his opinion it may be expe-
dient; the Secretary giving at least, three days notice of
such special meetings, in one or more of the newspapers
printed in Boston.
ART, 6. The Vice President, in the absence of the
President, shall preside at all meetings which he may
attend ; and in the absence of the President, may order
special meetings, with like notice, whenever in his opin-
ion it may be expedient.
ART. 7. The Treasurer shall give bonds with sureties,
to be approved by the Committee on Finance, in a sum
not less than $20,000, conditioned for the faithful dis-
charge of his duties. He shall receive and have the cus-
tody of all moneys, bonds, notes, deeds, and other securi-
ties, belonging to the Corporation, which he shall keep
and manage under the direction and control of the Board
of Trustees, or their Committee of Finance. He shall
pay no moneys but by order of the Board of Trustees, or
of their committees duly authorized by the Board to draw
on him therefor, or for the regular salaries of the officers
of the Institution. He shall render an account of the
state of his books, and of the funds and property in his
custody, when called for by the Trustees or Corporation;
28
and he shall make up the accounts to the last day of De-
cember in each year; which accounts shall be laid before
the Corporation at their annual meeting, together with a
report thereon, and upon the general state of the Institu-
tion, by a Committee of the Trustees, to be seasonably
chosen by them for that purpose. On the payment, when
due, of any debt, secured by mortgage, the Treasurer is
authorized to acknowledge satisfaction thereof and dis-
charge the same on the margin of the record.
ART. 8. The Trustees herein directed to be annually
elected, together with four others, to be appointed agree-
ably to the act of incorporation, by the Board of Wisitors,
shall constitute a Board for the immediate management of
all the property and concerns of the Institution. They
shall meet at least as often as once a month, at such time
and place as they shall by vote determine, or as their
Chairman shall direct; and all questions which shall come
before the Board shall be determined by a majority of the
Trustees present and voting thereon. They shall have
power to take any measures which they may deem expe-
dient for encouraging subscriptions, donations and be-
quests to the Corporation;–to petition the Legislature for
any additional grants or privileges, and for such amend-
ments and alterations of the several acts relative to the
Corporation, as they may think advisable;—to take charge
of and watch over the general interests and concerns of
the Institution; to enter into, and bind the Corporation
by such compacts and engagements as they may deem
advantageous;–to appoint annually or otherwise, all
proper and necessary physicians, surgeons, officers, assist-
ants, and servants, for the superintendence and manage-
ment of the respective departments, with such salaries and
allowances as they may from time to time fix and deter-
mine ; to make such rules and regulations for the govern-
ment of the said physicians, surgeons, officers, assistants,
and servants, and for the admission of patients, and the
well-ordering and conducting the respective departments
of the Institution, as to them may seem proper and expe-
29
dient; provided, however, that the said rules and regula-
tions shall at all times be subject to be altered or amended
by the Corporation at their annual meeting, or at any legal
meeting specially called for that purpose.
They shall cause a fair record of all their doings to be
kept, which shall be laid before the Corporation at every
meeting thereof; and at every annual meeting they shall
make a written report on the Treasurer's accounts, and on
the general state of the Institution, comprising a state-
ment of the number of patients admitted and discharged
during the year at each department, and an account of
the receipts and expenditures in each department; and for
this purpose they shall, at some previous meeting, appoint
a Committee of the Board.
ART. 9. The Secretary shall notify and attend all
meetings of the Corporation and of the Board of Trustees,
and shall keep a distinct record of the doings of each. He
shall also audit the accounts of the Institution, and shall be
sworn to the faithful performance of his duties.
R U L E S A N D R E G U L A TI O N S
FOR
T H E H O S P IT A L.
A D OPT E D 1846.
C H A P T E R. I.
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND MEETINGS OF TRUSTEES.
ART. 1. The Board of Trustees shall annually, at their
first meeting after the annual meeting of the Corporation,
choose by ballot two practitioners in Physic, and two in
Surgery, who shall constitute a board of consultation;
whose duty it shall be, whenever officially called upon by
the Trustees, or the medical or surgical Officers, to render
such advice as they may deem most for the true interest
of the Institution.
ART 2. The Trustees shall also, at said meeting, elect
six Physicians, six Surgeons, an admitting Physician, and
a Superintendent of the Hospital; all of whom shall hold
their respective offices during the pleasure of the Trus-
tees, and until others shall have been chosen and qualified
in their stead.
ART. 3. At said meeting, or whenever in their opinion
it is expedient, the Board of Trustees may appoint any
other officer or officers, with such duties as they may
prescribe.
ART. 4. At said meeting the Board of Trustees shall
appoint a Committee, to be called the Free Bed Standing
Committee, whose duty it shall be to call on Subscribers
31
to renew their annual subscriptions, to solicit new sub-
scriptions, and to report the names of all subscribers to the
Treasurer.
ART. 5. At said meeting a Committee shall also be
appointed to purchase religious and moral publications,
for the use of the patients, with the income derived from
the Warren Fund, agreeably to the directions of the
donor; which income shall be subject to the order of said
Committee. They shall report annually a list of the
books which they have purchased, with their titles and
cost, and the manner in which they have been disposed of.
The same Committee shall also have charge of the
general Library, and be authorized to expend, and draw
on the Treasurer for any sums which the Trustees may,
from time to time, appropriate for the purpose of increas-
ing it ; and they shall annually report their doings in re-
gard to the same, accompanied with a statement of the
number of volumes on hand, and, in case of any loss, of
the number and titles of the books which are missing.
ART. 6. A Committee shall also be appointed to enter
in the Book of Donations, all Bequests, Donations and
Subscriptions for free beds, which may have been receiv-
ed in the course of the past year.
ART. 7. At said meeting, a Committee of Finance
shall be appointed, who shall direct the Treasurer in all
cases of investments of money, and have the general
charge and superintendence of the pecuniary affairs of
the Institution. -
ART. 8. At said meeting the Trustees shall divide
themselves into Wisiting Committees, so that a Committee
shall always consist of two Trustees, and each Trustee
serve for two months, but so that one Trustee shall go
out each month. -
ART. 9. There shall be a Quarterly Meeting of the
Board of Trustees at the Hospital on the Fridays preced-
ing the third Wednesdays of January, April, July and
October, at 3% o'clock, P. M., or on such other days in
said months as they or their Chairman shall direct, for the
32
purpose of examining into the general state of the Hos-
pital; and at this meeting all reports, books of accounts,
and minutes relative to the Hospital shall be laid before
the Board.
C H A P T E R II.
VISITING COMMITTEE-ADMISSION OF PATIENTS.
ART. 1. The Visiting Committee shall meet once in
every Week at the Hospital, on such day and hour as
the Trustees shall from time to time appoint; and in case
either of those to whom this duty shall belong shall be
unable to attend, he shall procure some other Trustee, or
the Treasurer or Secretary of the Corporation to attend in
his place. They shall visit the wards and every room in
the Hospital, except the sleeping rooms of the Superin-
tendent's family. They shall at each visit receive from
the Superintendent a list of the patients, and shall see each
of them if practicable. The Committee in their visits to
the rooms, wards, and other parts of the house, shall not,
unless at their own request, be accompanied by any of the
officers or attendants of the Hospital. They shall exam-
ine carefully the state of every part of the establishment,
and ascertain whether its officers and attendants fulfil their
duties faithfully and humanely.
ART. 2. Applications for admission of patients, must
be made at the Hospital in Allen street, between the
hours of 9 and 10, A. M., on each day of the week, ex-
cept Sundays. In urgent cases, however, application
may be made at other times, at the Hospital. The pa-
tient, if able, should in all cases appear there in person.
If not able to attend, the application may be made at the
Hospital by a friend, and the patient will be visited by
33
the Admitting Physician of the Institution ; and no one
can be admitted without his certificate, except in case of
recent accident. -
Applications from the country may be made in writing,
addressed to the Admitting Physician of the Hospital,
by the Attending Physician of the patient, accompanied by
a description of the case, and, when a free bed is desired,
a statement of the pecuniary circumstances of the patient.
The Admitting Physician shall be required to visit, at
their residences, all such applicants as cannot attend per-
sonally at the Hospital, and, in regard to each patient, he
is empowered to decide the propriety of his admission, and
the rate at which he shall be charged for board, or to grant
his admission to a free bed in such cases as he shall think
proper. He shall keep in a book, a complete list of all
applications, comprising the following particulars;–the
name, place of abode, and disease of the patient, whether
admitted or not, and on what terms; and this list shall
be open to the inspection of the Trustees, Physicians,
Surgeons and Superintendent. Provided, however, that
the Visiting Committee may, at any time require the Ad-
mitting Physician to report the names of applicants to
them before admitting them, and may dismiss any patient
whom they may think improperly admitted, or alter the
terms of admission. And provided, also, that any Trus-
tee, or either of the Physicians or Surgeons of the Hos-
pital may, in case of emergency, send a patient in the
first instance to the Hospital by written permit, and the
Wisiting Committee shall, on the certificate of one of the
medical officers, decide as soon as may be afterwards,
whether such patient shall remain, and shall fix the terms
of board. The price of board shall in all instances be so
low, as to make the Hospital to as great extent a char-
itable Institution as its funds will permit ; and in each
instance shall be graduated as nearly as possible, accord-
ing to the circumstances of the patients, and to the accom-
modation they may receive. When a patient remains
only one day, the charge shall be at least one dollar.
5
34
The price of board of any patient, as approved by the
Visiting Committee, shall not be altered after their term
of visiting, unless by the Board of Trustees.
No patient will be admitted having a contagious disease.
Persons infected with Syphilis shall not be admitted
into the Hospital for treatment, except in urgent cases, and
when admitted, shall pay double the usual rates of board.
ART. 3. The Visiting Committee shall certify the ad-
mission of all patients, made as above, and the terms
thereof, and shall require an obligation with surety, in
such form as the Trustees shall from time to time pre-
scribe, for the payment of board, medical attendance,
medicine, charges in case of death or removal, damages
wantonly done to the buildings or furniture, and all other
expenses incurred for the patient; or they may receive
such security in money as they may deem sufficient, the
sum, except in special cases, not to be less than the
amount of six week’s board. And if a corporate town in
this Commonwealth be principal, the obligation may be
signed by any Overseer of the Poor of said town, who
shall file with the obligation a certified copy of a vote
authorizing him to execute the same.
ART. 4. The Visiting Committee shall keep a book of
minutes at the Hospital, common to all the Committees
in succession, in which shall be entered at each weekly
visit the names and suitable descriptions of all persons by
them admitted, received, removed, and all who have died
or been discharged, or have in any way left the Hospital;
and all other business which shall come before them;
which book shall be laid before the Board of Trustees at
their quarterly meetings at the Hospital.
ART. 5. They shall give such orders and establish
such regulations from time to time, as they may think
proper to effect the objects of the Institution; provided,
the same be not repugnant to the By-laws of the Corpora-
tion, or to the Rules and Regulations of the Board of
Trustees.
35
ART. 6. They may direct the Superintendent to give
relief in money or clothes, to any patient when discharg—
ed, who from extreme poverty or distress may need the
Sarſle.
ART. 7. At the close of each quarter year they shall
examine the accounts of the Superintendent, and certify
to the Trustees whether the expenditures have been
proper, and whether the charges therefor ought to be al-
lowed, as stated by the auditor.
C H A P T E R. III.
The PHYSICIANS AND surgeons, &c.
ART. 1. During alternate terms of four months in each
year, two Physicians and two Surgeons shall have the
care of the patients, who shall be assigned to them by
the Admitting Physician as follows. All medical and
surgical cases, as they are admitted during the year, shall
be assigned alternately to the attending officers ; and no
preference is to be given to any one of them, except it be
during the term of the Lectures at the Medical College;
when, if either of the Attending Physicians or Surgeons
is a Professor of the College, it shall be the duty of the
others to acquiesce in such arrangements as may be
thought most advantageous for the Students then at-
tending the Lectures at the Hospital or College.
The two Attending Physicians and Surgeons, may be
allowed respectively to exchange patients with each other,
when moved to do so by any important considerations.
Each officer shall have the exclusive control and care of
all the patients assigned to him, and each shall render to
the other such assistance as may be desired, and if either
be prevented by any cause from performing his duties,
36
they shall be performed by his associate, or by some one
of the other Physicians or Surgeons respectively. Their
directions in regard to the patients shall be complied with
by all the officers and attendants, so far as may be con-
sistent with the economy of the Institution, established
by the Board of Trustees and the Visiting Committee. -
ART. 2. It shall be the duty of the Admitting Physi-
cian to attend to the admission of patients, as directed in
the preceding Chapter, (regard being had to the directions
respecting the assignment of the patients in Article 1st of
this Chapter,) and to perform such other duties as the
Physicians and Surgeons, with the approbation of the
Visiting Committee, shall direct and require.
ART. 3. The Attending Physicians and Surgeons re-
spectively, shall certify in writing the propriety of retain-
ing or discharging each patient. It shall be their duty
also to report in writing to the Visiting Committee, any
impropriety or negligence which they may have observed
in the Hospital.
ART. 4. No persons, excepting Physicians and Sur-
geons of the City of Boston, in good standing, and their
Students, shall be admitted to the clinical practice or sur-
gical operations of the Hospital, without exhibiting to the
Apothecary a ticket of admission from one of the Attend-
ing Physicians or Surgeons, or from some person author-
ized to give such ticket by the Board of Trustees, in the
manner hereinafter prescribed. Physicians and Surgeons
of good standing in the City of Boston, shall have the
power of admitting by ticket students under their tuition
to see the medical and surgical practice of the Hospital,
whenever authorized thereto by the Board of Trustees; it
being understood that each Physician and Surgeon is to be
responsible for the good behavior of his own students, and
that the Board may refuse to grant authority, or take it
away, whenever the interests of the Hospital shall seem
to them to require it. The tickets are to be signed by
the several Physicians or Surgeons under whom the stu-
37,
dents study, when duly authorized as above, and must be
exhibited to the Apothecary before admission.
The past and present Physicians and Surgeons and the
past and present Admitting Physicians are authorized to
issue such tickets of admission to their respective students.
Practising Physicians and Surgeons of regular standing
shall be permitted to visit the Hospital on making them-
selves known to the Attending Physicians or Surgeons, or,
in case of their absence, to the House Physicians or Sur-
geons; but they are not to examine the patients or make
any observations upon their medical or surgical treatment,
except in the presence and at the request of some one
of the several Physicians or Surgeons attached to the
Hospital.
ART. 5. The Attending Physicians and Surgeons shall
receive such sums, from all patients who do not pay less
than five dollars weekly board, as the Visiting Committee
shall direct; and out door patients, when possessed of
property, are expected to pay reasonable fees for advice
and operations, according to the judgment of the Attend-
ing Physician or Surgeon; and all fees received shall be
for the use of the Hospital.
ART. 6. They shall nominate to the Board of Trustees
eight persons from the applicants for the office of House
Physician and Surgeon, two of whom shall be chosen to
fill the office of House Physician and two that of House
Surgeon.
ART. 7. They shall keep in each of the two depart-
ments, of medicine and of surgery, a book in which shall be
recorded under their direction in appropriate columns, the
name of each patient, the date of his or her admission,
removal, discharge, elopement or death, and the name of
each patient’s disease : and in case of a discharge of a
patient, the state of the patient at the time, that is,
whether well, relieved or much relieved, with such re-
marks on each case as they may deem useful. At the
end of each quarter a recapitulation shall be added in
these record books, stating the number of patients under
38
the care of the Physicians or Surgeons respectively at the
beginning of the quarter, the number received during the
quarter, the number of those who have died, of those who
have been discharged, of those who have eloped, and of
those who remain at the end of the quarter. They shall
also report, whenever they see occasion, on the general
state and condition of the Hospital, its officers and attend-
ants, and shall suggest such improvements as to them may
appear advisable.
C H A P T E R. I W.
THE SUPERINTENIDENT.
ART. 1. He shall, under the direction of the Visiting
Committee, have the general care and superintendence of
the Hospital, its buildings and appurtenances.
ART. 2. He shall, under the direction of the Visiting
Committee, purchase fuel, provisions, furniture, and stores,
and shall be responsible for the safe keeping, economical
use, and expenditure thereof. And he shall form and
keep an analysis of the same, to be laid before the Trus-
tees at the quarterly meetings. He shall also, under the
direction of the Physicians and Surgeons, purchase med-
icines for the use of the Hospital.
ART. 3. He shall collect and receive all dues from
patients, and all moneys deposited by them, and place the
same to their credit. He shall deposit all moneys in his
hands belonging to the Institution, in one bank, in his
name as Superintendent. He shall keep a true and exact
account of all his receipts and expenditures, which he
shall lay before the Visiting Committee whenever requir-
ed, and before the Trustees at their quarterly meetings;
and before entering on the duties of his office, he shall give
bonds with sureties in the sum of $5,000, to account for
39:
all sums of money and other property which may come
into his hands.
ART. 4. He shall hire, pay and discharge, and shall
oversee and direct all attendants and servants in and
about the Hospital; and shall particularly see that they
are kind and attentive to the patients, obedient to the
directions of the Physicians and Surgeons, and decent,
moral and sober in their deportment; and he shall report
all proceedings under this rule to the Visiting Committee
at their next meeting.
ART. 5. He shall visit all the wards every morning
and evening, and oftener if necessary, and see that they
are clean and in good order, and shall take care that no
wine or spirits be used by the patients, unless by express
direction. It shall be his duty to appoint for each patient
the bed and the ward he or she shall occupy, and change
the same from time to time, as occasion may require, but
subject always, in this respect, to the orders of the Physi-
cian or Surgeon under whose care the patient may be.
ART. 6. He shall enter in a book to be kept for that
purpose, the name, age, residence, and disease of each pa-
tient received or admitted, the rate of board with the
securities therefor, the time when received, removed, dis-
charged, eloped or deceased, and whether cured or reliev-
ed. He shall from time to time report to the Attending
Physicians and Surgeons for their action, the names of
all free patients who have been in the house more than
six weeks, and to the Trustees for their action, all cases
of free patients, who have been in the house over three
months; and at every quarterly meeting of the Trustees,
he shall lay before them a report containing the above
particulars.
ART. 7. On the death of any patient, he shall cause
the body to be conveyed to a room provided for that pur-
pose, there to remain until delivered to the friends of the
deceased, or to the sexton or undertaker, to be decently
interred, for which he shall be particularly responsible.
He shall also, in all cases, give immediate notice of the
40
decease to the Admitting Physician, from whom he will
take directions respecting the notice to be given to the
friends, which must be, if practicable, before the inter-
ment; and no body must be removed or interred until
twenty-four hours have elapsed after death, except at the
express request of the relatives. He shall report forth-
with to the Visiting Committee whether the deceased left
any clothes or articles of value, and shall follow their
directions relative to the same.
ART. 8. He shall see that no patient goes out of the
Hospital without permission. He shall not suffer any
person to visit that part of the Hospital appropriated to
patients, except at such hours as are mentioned in Chap-
ter 7th, or as the Visiting Committee may from time to
time prescribe, unless in case of emergency, or by a per-
mit from the President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Sec-
retary, or from a Trustee, Physician, or Surgeon of the
Hospital; and he shall cause the gates to be locked at a
seasonable hour in the evening.
ART. 9. The wife of the Superintendent, shall assist
in his duties, and shall act as the Matron of the Hospital,
but without separate compensation. And it shall be her
special duty to attend to the distribution of the books pur-
chased with the income of the Warren Fund and make an
annual report to the Committee, of the disposition which
has been made of the same. She shall also take charge
of the General Library, and shall annually report to the
Committee its condition, the number of volumes receiv-
ed, and if any have been lost or injured, the names and
titles thereof. The Superintendent shall occupy with his
family and attendants, such apartments only as the Visit-
ing Committee shall assign to him ; his table shall be
supplied at the expense of the Corporation, in such manner
as the Visiting Committee shall direct; and his salary
shall be paid quarterly. -
41
C H A P T E R. W.
HOUSE PHYSICIANS AND HOUSE SURGEONS.
ART. 1. There shall be two House Physicians, and two
House Surgeons, graduates in medicine, who shall be an-
nually chosen from twice that number, to be nominated
by the Physicians and Surgeons; and in case either of
them is temporarily prevented by sickness or other cause
from attending to his duties, the other shall perform them
in addition to his own.
ART. 2. They shall not leave the duties of their
respective posts, except in case of urgent necessity, nor
without permission first obtained from the Attending Phy-
sicians or Surgeons, and in all such cases it shall be the
duty of the Attending Physicians or Surgeons to procure
a substitute to be approved of by the Visiting Committee.
ART. 3. They shall in no case make an exchange of
their respective departments, without the permission of
the respective officers under whom they serve, and the
approval of the Board of Trustees.
ART. 4. They shall be under the direction of the Phy-
sicians and Surgeons of the Hospital respectively, and
shall be responsible to the Superintendent, in so far as it
is his duty to note any neglect in either of them, or to re-
quire them to be more diligent, punctual, or faithful.
ART. 5. They shall reside in the Hospital and live in
the family of the Superintendent, and never more than
two of them be absent from the Hospital at the same
time. Each of them shall have reasonable time to go
abroad for exercise. For this purpose they may make
such arrangements as shall be satisfactory to the Superin-
tendent. In general, neither of them should be absent
more than three hours in the day and evening.
ART. 6. They shall keep a daily record of every im-
portant fact in the history of the patients, and as soon as
possible enter it in a handsome manner in the case-book
6
42
of the department, under direction of the Physicians and
Surgeons, as mentioned in chapter 3, article 6, which
shall be carefully kept at the Hospital in charge of the
Apothecary; and no volume of said records shall be taken
from the House without his consent, and upon a receipt
therefor by the person taking it.
ART. 7. The House Physicians and Surgeons shall
give to applicants for admission at the Hospital, all preli-
minary instruction as to the mode of admission.
They shall attend to all patients actually admitted to
the Hospital, and give directions for their management, so
far as may be necessary, before they are seen by the Phy-
sicians or Surgeons; and they shall especially see that
a bath is administered, in all cases where it is possible and
safe, before the patient is admitted into the wards.
They shall attend at the regular medical and surgical
visit in the morning, and visit the wards in the evening ;
they shall also note all important changes in the patients,
and inform the Physicians and Surgeons thereof at their
next visit.
They shall see that all orders and prescriptions of the
Physicians or Surgeons, concerning the diet, conduct, or
exercise of the patients, are exactly and punctually observ-
ed; and shall cause the quarterly returns to be regularly
made up and signed.
ART. 8. The House Surgeons are to prepare all pa-
tients for operations, to see that all those whose cases
require it are seasonably dressed, and that the surgical in-
struments are taken care of
ART. 9. Each of said officers shall perform such other
duties as the Physicians or Surgeons respectively may
from time to time require ; and each of them, on produc-
ing a certificate to the Trustees, signed by all the medi-
cal or surgical officers under whom he has served and the
Superintendent, that his conduct has been entirely satis-
factory in all respects, shall be entitled to receive the sum
of fifty dollars at the expiration of one year's service, but
for no shorter period.
C. H. A. P. T. E. R. W. I.
HOUSE APOTHEC ARY.
ART. 1. He shall be chosen annually and shall reside
at the Hospital, and live in the family of the Superintend-
ent; he shall never lodge out of the Hospital, nor leave it
at any time without the consent of the Superintendent,
except at such regular hours as may be agreed to by the
Superintendent.
ART. 2. He shall have the care of all drugs, medicines
and other articles belonging to the Apothecary’s depart-
ment.
The Medical Library shall be under his special care ;
and it shall be his duty to report to the Trustees annually
the condition of the same, the number of volumes receiv-
ed, and if any have been lost, the names thereof.
ART. 3. He shall deliver all medicines to the nurses,
with directions in writing as to the use of them.
ART. 4. He shall give such assistance to the Super-
intendent, in keeping his accounts and records as that
officer may desire.
ART. 5. He shall perform such other duties as the
Physicians and Surgeons respectively may from time to
time require of him.
C H A P T E R W II.
* *
ATTENDANTs, visitors, PATIENTs, &c.
ART. 1. No visitors, (except as hereinafter mentioned)
shall be admitted to the Hospital without a special permit
from the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary,
44
one of the Trustees, a Physician or Surgeon of the Hos-
pital, the Admitting Physician, or by the express sanction
of the Superintendent.
On each day of the week, Sundays excepted, from 12
to 1 o'clock, friends may be admitted to visit patients in
the wards; it being understood that no patient in any
ward shall receive more than one visitor at a time; and
that no patient in any female ward, shall ever be visited
by a male friend, other than her father, son, husband or
brother.
Patients in private rooms may be visited by their friends
at any suitable hours in the day time, by permission of the
Superintendent; and any patient in the wards may in
like manner be visited by friends who reside more than
six miles from the city, upon obtaining the like permis-
sion.
No one calling to visit any member of the Superintend-
ent’s family or an attendant, shall be admitted to visit the
wards without the special permission of the Superin-
tendent.
In all cases, however, the Superintendent may exercise
discretionary powers as to excluding or admitting visitors.
Whenever, from any cause, it shall be considered inexpe-
dient for any of the rooms to be exhibited to visitors of
the Institution, it shall be so reported to the Superintend-
ent by the House Physicians or Surgeons, and, with the
exception of rooms thus designated, the Superintendent
may at any time exhibit to visitors such parts of the
establishment as he may think proper.
ART. 2. No indecent or immoral conduct in any pa-
tient or other person connected with or resident in the
Hospital, shall be tolerated by the Superintendent, who
shall forthwith report any such misconduct to the Visiting
Committee.
ART. 3. Such free patients as are able, in the opinion
of the Physicians and Surgeons, shall assist in nursing
others, or in such services as the Superintendent or Mat-
rom may require; and if any persons refuse to perform
45
such acts their names shall be forthwith reported to the
Visiting Committee.
ART. 4. No person, except the Physicians or Surgeons
of the Hospital, shall speak of the health of a patient in
the presence of such patient.
ART. 5. The smoking of Tobacco is prohibited in the
Hospital.
C H A P T E R W III.
FREE BEIDS,
ART. 1. All subscriptions for free beds shall date from
the 1st of January in each year, and any individual sub-
scribing one hundred dollars shall be entitled to a free bed
at the Hospital during that year. And on payment of
such a sum as the applicant would be required to pay for
an annuity of one hundred dollars on the principles of
life insurance, he shall be entitled to a free bed for life.
ART. 2. The Trustees shall, at the beginning of each
quarter, determine what number of free beds shall be
allowed at the Hospital, including such as may have been
subscribed for, or for which any permanent subscription or
bequest may have been made : the whole number never to
be less than thirty-seven.
ART. 3. Two of said free beds shall be reserved for
cases of accident; to be known as the Sears' free beds.
ART. 4. No free patient shall be continued after the
term of three months, without a special vote of the Trus-
tees for that purpose.
RULES AND REGULATIONs
FOR THE
McLEAN ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
ADOPTED APRIL, 1846.
C. H. A. P. T. E. R. I.
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND MEETINGS OF TRUSTEES.
ART. 1. The Board of Trustees shall annually, at
their first meeting after the annual meeting of the Cor-
poration, choose by ballot, two Practitioners in Physic,
and two in Surgery, who shall constitute a Board of Con-
sultation, whose duty it shall be, whenever officially called
upon by the Trustees, or the Officers of the Asylum, to
render such advice as they may deem most for the true
interest of the Institution.
ART. 2. The Trustees shall also as soon as may be
after said annual meeting, or whenever a vacancy may
occur, elect a suitable person to be the Physician and Su-
perintendent of the Asylum, who shall hold his office dur-
ing the pleasure of the Trustees, or until another shall
have been chosen and qualified to act in his stead.
ART. 3. At the said meeting, or whenever it is in
their opinion expedient, the Trustees may appoint any
other officer or officers, with such duties as they may
prescribe.
48
ART. 4. At said meeting the Trustees shall divide
themselves into Visiting Committees, so that a Commit-
tee shall always consist of two Trustees, and each Trus-
tee serve for two months, but so that one Trustee shall
go out each month.
ART. 5. There shall be a Quarterly Meeting of the
Board of Trustees at the Asylum, on the third Wednes-
days of January, April, July, and October, at 3% o'clock,
P. M., or on such other days in said months as they or
their Chairman shall direct, for the purpose of examining
into the general state of the Asylum ; at which meeting
all reports, books of accounts and minutes relative to the
Asylum shall be laid before the Board.
C H. A. P. T. E. R. I. I.
VISITING COMMITTEE,
ART. 1. The Visiting Committee shall meet at the
Asylum every Tuesday. If either of its members shall
be unable to attend, he shall procure some other Trustee,
or the Treasurer or Secretary of the Corporation to attend
in his place. *
ART. 2. They shall admit and discharge boarders at
their discretion, having regard to the just expectations of
the public and the existing state of the Asylum. They
shall fix the rate of board so low, as to make it as much
a charitable institution as its funds will permit, always
regarding the circumstances of the respective boarders and
the accommodation they may receive. The rate of board
shall be revised only by the same Committee or by the
Board of Trustees. Any boarder removed at the request
of friends shall be charged for thirteen weeks' board un-
49. }
less sooner cured. The lowest rate to be charged to a
patient is $3 per week.
ART. 3. They shall in all cases require a certificate
that the person whose admission is requested is insane,
and also a statement or history of the case, if it can be
obtained. On the admission of any boarder, they shall
issue their written order to the Physician and Superin-
tendent to receive the same, which order shall contain a
fixed or a nominal rate of board, and the names of the
principal and surety in the obligation to pay the expenses.
Instead of a surety, a sum of money, not less than the
amount of board for thirteen weeks may be deposited. If
a corporate town in this Commonwealth be principal, the
obligation may be signed without surety by one or more
of the overseers of the poor in said town, who may file
with the obligation a certified copy of a vote of said over-
seers authorizing him or them to execute the same.
ART. 4. In case of emergency, or when it may be in-
convenient to apply to the Visiting Committee, either of
its members or any other Trustee may admit boarders,
subject to the revision of the Committee.
ART. 5. At each stated visit, they shall see each
boarder in the Asylum, excepting those who would in
their opinion be injured thereby. They shall examine
carefully the state of every part of the establishment, and
ascertain whether its officers and attendants fulfil their
duties faithfully and humanely.
ART. 6. They may direct the Physician and Superin-
tendent to give relief to any boarder, in clothes while
resident in the Asylum, or in money when removed there-
from, if in their judgment such boarder, may, from ex-
treme poverty or distress, need the same.
ART. 7. At the close of each quarter year they shall
examine the accounts of the Steward, and certify to the
Trustees whether the expenditures have been proper, and
whether the charges therefor ought to be allowed, as
stated by the auditor.
7
50
ART. 8. They shall make and establish such orders
and regulations as they may think most proper to pro-
mote the objects of the Institution; provided the same be
not inconsistent with the By-laws of the Corporation or
the rules and regulations established by the Trustees.
ART. 9. They shall keep a book of minutes common
to every Committee in succession, in which shall be en-
tered the names of all persons admitted and received, or
discharged and removed, and of those who have other-
wise left the Asylum, or died in it; also the names of the
principal and surety to pay expenses of each boarder, and
all other business which may come before them, which
book shall be laid before the Trustees at their meetings
at the Asylum.
C H A P T E R III.
PHYSICIAN AND superiNTENDENT, &c.
ART. 1. The Physician and Superintendent shall have
the sole direction of the medical, moral and physical treat-
ment of the boarders and of their regimen and diet; and
his orders and requests in all respects are to be strictly
observed. He shall visit all the boarders daily, and as
much oftener as may be necessary, and may call consul-
tations whenever he may see fit.
ART. 2. There shall be an Assistant Physician, whose
duty it shall be to reside constantly at the Asylum, and
under the direction of the Physician and Superintendent,
devote his whole time to the medical, moral, and physi-
cal treatment of the boarders; preparing and administer-
ing medicines as required, and performing such duties in
relation to boarders and visitors as in the opinion of the
Physician and Superintendent will be most for the inter-
ests of the Institution.
51
ART. 3. The Physician and Superintendent shall
make to the Trustees, at each Quarterly Meeting, a re-
port setting forth the general state of the Institution, the
condition of all boarders removed, and if any have died,
the probable cause of their death, with such suggestions
and remarks as he may think useful; and previously to
each annual meeting, he shall lay before them a general
view of the Institution and of its results for the whole
year.
ART. 4. He shall nominate the Assistant Physician
and the Supervisors, and may require the Steward to dis-
miss any attendant.
ART. 5. He shall have apartments in the mansion
house for himself and his family, and the services of a
chamber-maid; his table shall be supplied at the expense
of the Corporation.
ART. 6. He shall cause to be kept proper records of
the medical treatment of the patients, and see that all pre-
scriptions are duly administéred.
ART. 7. He shall, from time to time, give to all per-
sons employed at the Asylum, such instruction and direc-
tions as he shall judge best adapted to carry into ſull
operation all the rules and regulations of the same, and
make such additional regulations, not inconsistent there-
with, as he may think most conducive to the best inter-
ests of the boarders and of the Institution, reporting such
regulations always to the Visiting Committee at their next
visit for their approval.
52
C H A P T E R. I W.
STEWARD.
ART. 1. The Steward shall have the charge of the
grounds, buildings and appurtenances, and see that the
same are kept in perfect order and repair, and that all the
apartments are duly cleaned, warmed and ventilated.
ART. 2. He shall cause to be kept a record of the
name, age and residence of each boarder, with the rate of
board, names of principal and surety, time when received
and when removed, whether eloped, dead or discharged.
At each Quarterly Meeting of the Trustees at the Asylum,
he shall report in writing the state of the grounds and
buildings, and the improvements which may have been
made thereon, the names of all persons hired by him,
with their wages, and of boarders received, with the rate
of board, and of those removed; and previously to the
annual meeting, he shall make a like report for the whole
year.
ART. 3. On the decease of any boarder, he shall give
early notice to the friends, and, if requested or convenient,
before the funeral. He shall cause the body to be safely
kept in a room provided for that purpose, till applied for
by the friends, or after a reasonable time, he shall deliver
it to the sexton or undertaker to be decently interred; for
all which he shall be particularly responsible.
ART. 4. Subject to the direction of the Visiting Com-
mittee, he shall purchase furniture, fuel, stores and other
necessary articles; and shall be responsible for the safe
keeping and economical use and expenditure of the same.
He shall collect and receive all moneys due on account of
the boarders, and shall keep the accounts of the Institution.
ART. 5. He shall hire, pay and discharge all attend-
ants and domestics. He shall have them, and all other
persons employed by him at the Asylum, under his di-
53
rection and government; and shall take care that they
are not guilty of profaneness, intemperance or other im-
morality or improper conduct, and that they do not bring
into the Asylum intoxicating liquors.
ART. 6. He shall, at all times, and particularly at their
weekly visits, inform the Committee of the state of the
Asylum, and give them such information as may be useful
or required. He shall weekly report to the Visiting Com-
mittee the names of all boarders received and discharged,
and shall also furnish them each time with a list of the
boarders then in the Asylum. -
ART. 7. He shall have apartments in the mansion
house for himself and family, and his table shall be sup-
plied in the same manner as is provided for the Physician
and Superintendent, and he shall be allowed the service
of one chamber-maid.
ART. 8. He shall have special charge of the mansion
house and of the domestics—shall see that the food be
properly served in each wing, and that the boarders be
supplied with such furniture, clothing and other articles
necessary for their comfort, as the Physician and Super-
intendent shall direct.
ART. 9. It shall be his duty to receive the boarders
and their clothing, and to cause proper entries thereof to
be made; also to receive visitors and give them all suita-
ble information, and show them such parts of the build-
ings and grounds as are open to their examination.
ART. 10. He shall in all things be subject to the or-
ders of the Physician and Superintendent.
54
C H A P T E R. W.
MATRON.
ART. 1. It shall be the duty of the Matron to look
carefully to the female patients, to be with them as much
as possible, to direct the nurses in their duty, to see that
the inmates are kindly treated, that their food is properly
served and distributed, that their apartments are kept
clean and in order, properly warmed and ventilated, and
that the female attendants in all respects do their duty.
It shall be the duty of the Matron, also, to superintend
the kitchen, the cooking, the washing and ironing, and
take care of the clothes and bedding, and see that they
are always clean and in good order.
ART. 2. It is expected of the Matron that she will de-
vote her time to the Institution, and spare no effort to
promote the comfort and recovery of the inmates.
ART. 3. She will look into every department, fre-
guently, and see to the good order of the whole house.
She will direct the labor and amusement of the female
patients, and spend as much time with them as her other
duties will allow.
C H A P T E R W I.
SUPERVISORS.
ART. 1. A male and female Supervisor shall be ap-
pointed annually by the Trustees, on nomination of the
Physician and Superintendent, by whom they may be at
any time removed with the consent of the Visiting Com-
mittee.
55
ART. 2. They shall have the oversight of their respec-
tive wings and of the attendants therein, directing them
in the management of the boarders according to the gen-
eral views and particular orders of the Physician and Su-
perintendent, and requiring them to treat the boarders at
all times in the most kind, humane, and gentle manner,
each informing the Physician and Superintendent, the
Matron or the Visiting Committee, of every violation of
the rules and regulations which shall come to his or her
knowledge. They shall be in the presence of the boarders
as much as possible—shall see that their clothes are taken
care of, that their food is properly served and distributed,
and that they take the same in a proper manner, that the
rooms, galleries and other apartments under their care are
kept clean and in good order and properly warmed and
ventilated.
ART. 3. They shall see that neither the attendants
or boarders bring into the Asylum clandestinely, any
drugs, medicines, tobacco, intoxicating liquors, or any
newspapers, pamphlets or books, other than shall be ap-
proved by the Physician and Superintendent, and on all
these points shall report to the Visiting Committee.
ART. 4. They shall accompany all visitors (in their
respective wings) who may have the permission of the
Physician and Superintendent to visit any boarder, and
shall remain with them during their visits.
C H A P T E R W II.
BOARDERS AND WISITORS.
ART. 1. The male boarders and the female boarders
shall have apartments in buildings entirely separated, and
shall be attended solely by persons of their own sex.
56
They shall always be treated with the greatest care, at-
tention and kindness; and shall be kept as neat in their
dress and clean in their persons as the state and nature of
their disease will admit. They shall not be confined or
subjected to force without the previous direction of the
Physician and Superintendent, except in cases of imme-
diate danger to themselves or others, or to prevent the im-
mediate destruction of their own clothes, or of other prop-
erty.
Their apartments shall be kept clean, well warmed and
well ventilated. They shall receive good and wholesome
food in sufficient quantity, served in a proper manner.
They shall be supplied with newspapers and books, and
be provided with all suitable amusements. They shall
take exercise by walking, riding, bowling, gardening or
otherwise.
The boarders shall attend public worship on the Lord’s
day when in a suitable condition.
ART. 2. Visitors. No person shall be permitted to
visit the buildings occupied by the boarders, or to view
the grounds or see any boarder, without the consent of
the Physician and Superintendent.
Visitors shall not be admitted on any part of the Lord’s
day, or the days of the Annual Fast and Thanksgiving.
The Physician shall prohibit visits to any boarder, when-
ever, in his opinion, they will be improper. No visitor
shall be allowed to deliver to or receive from any boarder
any letter or other thing whatever, without the knowledge
and consent of the Physician and Superintendent.
In regard to visits, however, the Visiting Committee
may give to the Physician and Superintendent such in-
structions as they may think proper.
57
C H A P T E R W III.
ATTENIDANTS.
ART. 1. There shall be one principal attendant in
each story of each wing of the Asylum, and as many as-
sistant attendants as may be needed. They shall devote
their whole time to the service of the Asylum, excepting
that the females may, with the consent of the Physician
and Superintendent, or Matron, mend their own clothes.
They shall never be absent without permission.
ART. 2 They shall bestow on the boarders the kind-
est and most assiduous attentions, and use their utmost
endeavors to render them comfortable and happy; join
with them and encourage them in all their labor, exercise
and recreations.
ART. 3. They shall not leave the apartments under
their charge without permission, but shall, as much as
possible, be in the presence of the boarders, to suppress
all improper conversation and all disorderly and violent
conduct. They shall not, without permission, suffer any
boarder to go out of the appropriate yards and apartments,
and shall be answerable for all elopements arising from
inattention or negligence.
ART. 4. They shall not use or have in their pos-
session any tobacco, or intoxicating liquors; nor shall
they bring into the Asylum or receive there, any news-
paper, pamphlet or book not directed by the Visiting
Committee, or by the Physician and Superintendent.
They shall not admit into the Asylum any person what-
ever; nor shall they receive or deliver for any boarder
any article without permission.
ART. 5. The male attendants or servants shall not
enter the buildings or yards appropriated to females; nor
shall the female attendants or servants enter the buildings
or yards appropriated to males without special leave.
8
58
ART. 6. The attendants shall accompany the boarders
to and from public worship on the Lord’s day, and shall
not be absent on that day for any other purpose.
C H A P T E R. I X.
1) OMESTICS.
ART. 1. As many men and women, to do the cooking,
washing, gardening and other necessary work, shall be
hired by the Steward, as he may think proper, subject to
the directions of the Wisiting Committee.
ART. 2. They shall strictly observe all the rules and
regulations of the Asylum, and all the orders and direc-
tions of the Physician and Superintendent and of the
Steward and the Matron, and shall not be absent without
permission. They shall be attentive and industrious,
devoting their whole time to the service of the Asylum
and using the strictest economy in all its affairs. The
females may mend their own clothes, if they have the
permission of the Physician and Superintendent or Matron.
ART. 3. They shall regularly, and in rotation, as often
as they can conveniently be spared, attend public worship
on the Lord’s day; but they shall not be absent on that
day for any other purpose. Those who use profane lan-
guage, or intoxicating liquors, or are guilty of immoral
or improper conduct, shall be dismissed.