of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 187

has given generously of her time and energies to this important work, while
others of your membership throughout the State are enrolled on general com-
mittees or local committees that have been formed in each of the 23 counties
and in the City of Baltimore.

Formal action has been asked of and received from your member club? and
I am pleased to say that the women of Maryland have shown a wholesome and
heartening interest in this important work.

Again, there is no more appealing work in which public spirited women
should be interested than that which concerns undertakings by the State in
the fields of health, custodial care and toward the education of our citizens.
In the judicious use of State funds for the hospitalization of those who are
unable to defray expenses of such treatment, the State not only can benefit the
individuals in question, but can thus restore them to a condition of healthy
citizens and at the same time promote the general health by improving health
conditions affecting the general public.

When we refer to the care of the tubercular among the colored as well
as among the white and of the care of the mentally afflicted and child-caring
institutions, it can be understood how far-reaching is the effect of this humani-
tarian effort. Fortunately the State of Maryland has been able to arrange for
considerable additions to our institutions.

In the present bond issue, 100 additional beds have been provided at Henry-
ton Sanatorium for the treatment of colored tuberculous patients; also funds
for 40 more beds at Mt. Wilson Sanatorium in order to enable the tubercular
to be treated by lung surgery. While these extensions to the sanatoria cost
$183, 000, increased budget appropriations of $110, 000 have been allowed for
the maintenance of additional patients and I am sure you will agree that this
money is being well spent.

As you know, the State. operates four institutions for the mentally ill
and two for the feeble minded... When I remind you that 8, 000 patients are
in these institutions and that the total enrollment is being increased by more
than 300 persons annually, you can understand the extent of the responsibility
resting upon the State.

Faced with this situation we have provided an outlay of $2, 750, 000 in the
two year period for additions to these institutions. Obviously additional main-
tenance will be required after new construction has taken place, but again I say
that if handled efficiently and economically, this undertaking by the State is
justifiable and will, in the end, more than pay for itself in benefits to the
great number of individuals affected.

I mentioned before the need for greater health service and as an indication
of what is possible, it might be noted that an additional $10, 000 is now avail-
able for the State Health Department for the purchase and distribution of
pneumonia serum for the use of patients unable to pay for it themselves.

In the field of public health an extensive program is necessary in such a
State as this and it not only justifies, but I may say, requires the attention and
study of club women. When we realize that in the last four years in Maryland
16, 775 families, including 47, 000 dependent children have received assistance
and that the number of old age pension cases reached 26, 800; that through
general public assistance the State rendered aid in 51, 400 cases, some idea can
be gained of how much the State needs the enlightened cooperation of public-
spirited women.