of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 293

practically complete, since the State will then have one hospital bed for every
death. This is the standard and means that ample hospital facilities are avail-
able for all cases of tuberculosis. The number of cases and the death rate,
from tuberculosis are both declining which will, it is believed by the authorities,
offset the tendency toward a large number of cases due to an increase in the
population.

Plans for the future contemplate the construction of a fireproof hospital
building at the Sanatorium at Sabillasville. The beginning of this project I
will recommend in the budget and it is highly gratifying that during this ad-
ministration our State approaches the culmination of a project started many
years ago to give adequate hospital care to tubercular patients, not only saving
the lives of many who have been treated in these institutions, but removing
from families and immediate contacts foci of infection which, in all likelihood,
would increase the spread of the disease.

Your body at the 1939 session gave full recognition to the needs of those
among our citizens who are mentally afflicted, by appropriating a total of
$1, 463, 000 to provide housing for 500 additional patients at Spring Grove
Hospital, Eastern Shore State Hospital, and Crownsville State Hospital. These
buildings have either been completed, or are now under construction, and will
be a tremendously helpful addition to our facilities for the care of mentally
diseased patients.

There are four mental disease hospitals and one training school for the
feeble-minded. The present populations of these institutions are as follows:
Springfield State Hospital................... 2, 900 patients

Spring Grove State Hospital............... 2, 030 patients

Eastern Shore State Hospital............... 450 patients

Crownsville State Hospital.................. 1, 423 patients

Rosewood State Training School.......... 1, 189 patients

It has been the policy for many years, in accordance with the resolution
passed by the Legislature, to care for indigent insane in State hospitals. Records
for some years past have demonstrated the need for providing for 200 addi-
tional white cases each year and 100 additional colored cases. These figures
represent the net increases in the populations of the institutions. Further
recommendations which will be made in the budget will place the physical
plants of the hospitals in a condition to receive the necessary number of patients
and to give them adequate treatment.

The following improvements have been made at the various institutions
in the past two years:

Springfield State Hospital—A new building for the treatment of tubercu-
losis was placed in operation, so that all white tubercular insane are now cared
for in this special hospital. Hydro and physio-therapy facilities were installed.
Additional quarters for employees were constructed. Power plant facilities
were extended to assure adequate service to all the buildings. An affiliate
school of nursing for student nurses of general hospitals was established. The
entire farm of the institution was set up as a non-erosion project in cooperation
with the Federal Government.

Spring Grove State Hospital—Two cottages for female patients were
completed, with a capacity of 100 beds. The hospital now has its full quota of
physicians, all of whom are well-trained psychiatrists.