2. Interpretation
In this Act—
“person of unsound mind” “insane person” “patient” or “mental patient” includes—
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(a) any epileptic or other person who is suffering from temporary or permanent disease or derangement of the brain producing disordered action of the mind to such an extent as to put him or her in a condition varying, from his or her normal self and out of relation with his or her environment so as to render him or her dangerous or inconvenient to himself or herself or others;
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(b) any idiot, that is to say, a person so defective in mind from birth or from an early age as to be unable to guard himself or herself against common physical dangers;
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(c) any imbecile, that is to say, a person in whose case there exists from birth or from an early age mental defectiveness not amounting to idiocy, yet so pronounced that he or she is incapable of managing himself or herself or his or her affairs, or in the case of a child, of being taught to do so;
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(d) any feeble minded person, that is to say, a person in whose case there exists mental defectiveness not amounting to imbecility yet so pronounced that he or she requires care, supervision and control for his or her own protection or for the protection of others, or in the case of a child, that he or she by reason of such defectiveness appears to be permanently incapable of receiving proper benefit from instruction in an ordinary school;
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(e) any moral defective, that is to say, a person in whose case there exists mental defectiveness coupled with vicious or criminal propensities and who requires care, supervision and control for the protection of others;
“pauper person of unsound mind” or “pauper patient” means any person of unsound mind—
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(a) who is found wandering at large;
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(b) who is not under proper care or not under proper control; or
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(c) who is likely to commit a crime;
“mental hospital” means a mental hospital under this act;
“mental hospital for inmates” means a mental hospital for inmates appointed under this act;
“licensed house” means a house licensed for the reception of a person of unsound mind under this Act;
“licensee” means the person to whom a licence in respect of a licensed house is granted;
“Court” or “judge” means the High Court or the Chief Justice, or any judge of the High Court;
“medical officer” includes the Medical Superintendent of any mental hospital.