Alberta enacts "Lunatics' Estates Act"

1916. The "Lunatics' Estates Act" is passed in Alberta, Canada, and defines the word "lunatic" as "an idiot or other person of unsound mind," while the definition of a person of unsound mind is a lunatic. This linguistic Catch 22 makes it difficult to identify to whom legislation for lunacy and unsoundness of mind would apply.

The Act would be amended in 1925, and renamed to the "Estates of the Mentally Incompetent Act".

-Amy Dyrbye

Alberta enacts "Lunatics' Estates Act"

1916. The "Lunatics' Estates Act" is passed in Alberta, Canada, and defines the word "lunatic" as "an idiot or other person of unsound mind," while the definition of a person of unsound mind is a lunatic. This linguistic Catch 22 makes it difficult to identify to whom legislation for lunacy and unsoundness of mind would apply.

The Act would be amended in 1925, and renamed to the "Estates of the Mentally Incompetent Act".

-Amy Dyrbye

Alberta enacts "Lunatics' Estates Act"

1916. The "Lunatics' Estates Act" is passed in Alberta, Canada, and defines the word "lunatic" as "an idiot or other person of unsound mind," while the definition of a person of unsound mind is a lunatic. This linguistic Catch 22 makes it difficult to identify to whom legislation for lunacy and unsoundness of mind would apply.

The Act would be amended in 1925, and renamed to the "Estates of the Mentally Incompetent Act".

-Amy Dyrbye