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39
"(1) The following provisions of this section shall have
' 'effect for the purpose of securing the necessary care and attention
' 'for persons who—
"(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease or, being aged,
"infirm or physically incapacitated, are living in insanitary
"conditions, and
(b) are unable to devote to themselves, and are not receiving
"from other persons, proper care and attention.
"(2) If the medical officer of health certifies in writing to
' 'the appropriate authority that he is satisfied after thorough
"inquiry and consideration that in the interests of any such
' 'person as aforesaid residing in the area of the authority, or for
"preventing injury to health of, or serious nuisance to, other
"persons, it is necessary to remove any such person as aforesaid
"from the premises in which he is residing, the appropriate
"authority may apply to a court of summary jurisdiction having
"jurisdiction in the place where the premises are situated for an
"order under the next following subsection.
'' (3) On any such application the court may, if satisfied on
"oral evidence of the allegations in the certificate, and that it
"is expedient so to do, order the removal of the person to whom
"the application relates, by such officer of the appropriate
"authority as may be specified in the order, to a suitable hospital
"or other place in, or within convenient distance of, the area of
' 'the appropriate authority, and his detention and maintenance
"therein:
" Provided that the Court shall not order the removal of a
"person to any premises, unless either the person managing
' 'the premises has been heard in the proceedings or seven clear
' 'days' notice has been given to him of the intended application
' 'and of the time and place at which it is proposed to be made.
"(4) An order under the last foregoing subsection may be
"made so as to authorise a person's detention for any period not
"exceeding three months, and the court may from time to time
"by order extend that period for such further period, not exceeding
three months, as the court may determine.
"(5) An order under subsection (3) of this section may be
"varied by an order of the court so as to substitute for the place
"referred to in that subsection such other suitable place in, or
"within convenient distance of, the area of the appropriate