16. Detention of alleged lunatic, pending report by medical officer.
(1)When any person alleged to be a lunatic is brought before a Magistrate under the provisions of section 13 or section 15, the Magistrate may, by an order in writing, authorise the detention of the alleged lunatic in suitable custody for such time not exceeding ten days as may be, in his opinion necessary to enable the medical officer to determine whether such alleged lunatic is a person in respect of whom a medical certificate may be properly given.(2)The Magistrate, from time to time, for the same purpose by order in writing, authorize such further detention of the alleged lunatic for periods not exceeding ten days at a time as he thinks necessary :Provided (hat no person shall be detained in accordance with the prisons of this section for a total period exceeding thirty days from the date on which he was first brought before the Magistrate.
