Department of Mental Hygiene. Plans have been made to establish a
psychiatric research institute at Spring Grove State Hospital.

Improvements in our physical plant have kept pace with the progress
and advancement of treatment programs. The opening of the Clifton
T. Perkins State Hospital gave the State its first opportunity to develop
a sound program for the treatment for a long-neglected and generally
misunderstood segment of patients classified as the "criminal insane. "
In February of this year, we opened the Jacob E. Finesinger Building to
provide psychiatric service to emotionally disturbed children who need
long-term hospitalization. Evidence that Maryland is determined to
keep abreast, and often a little ahead, of changing concepts of public
mental care is to be found in the rehabilitation buildings erected recently
at Rosewood, Crownsville and Spring Grove. And last summer, we
opened a new building at the Eastern Shore State Hospital to supply a
long felt need for treatment facilities for the aged on the Eastern Shore—
a building which, incidentally, bears my name.

This, as I have said, purports to be no more than a summary of our
activities in the field of mental health. The proof of the pudding, it is
written, is the eating, and the proof of the efficacy of our efforts in
public mental health is in the number of persons who have been relieved
of their suffering by hospitalization and returned to their communities
as self-sufficient members of society. The Department of Mental Hygiene
advises me that the highest number of patients ever in history are being
treated this year in our six State mental hospitals. And yet, because of
the rapidly increasing number of discharges, the average daily resident
population of these hospitals is approximately 100 below last year.

This is convincing proof that we are making gratifying progress in the
treatment and care of the unfortunate victims of mental illness in
Maryland. As Governor of the State, I am most grateful to all of you
for the splendid interest you have shown and are showing in this impor-
tant public undertaking.

ADDRESS, MARYLAND NURSING HOME ASSOCIATION

BALTIMORE

July 16, 1962

I am delighted to be here this evening as the guest of an association
representing private agencies which have done so much to aid the State
of Maryland and its subdivisions in their efforts to enhance the happi-
ness and well-being of the older men and women of our State.

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