In any county of the first class having a population of more than 700,000 but less than 900,000 inhabitants, a person may be admitted to the county hospital on the application of his treating physician or on the application of any of the persons enumerated in section 7 of the act to which this act is a supplement, and, notwithstanding the provisions of said section 7, no such application shall be required to be in writing.
N.J.S. § 30:9-12.15a