Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-27
Farm Expert Predicts Maryland 10 Broaden
Good Maryland Year Drive on Mental Ills,
Despite Cut in Income Health Chief Reveals
By the Assoeiofsd Press

realm lnIeI keVedIS
BY the Associated Press
BALTIMORE, Dec. 27.-One of
the State Health Department.
detectives for 1850 will be to
broaden its drive on mental illness.
DR.. Robert H. Riley, State
health director, said today he ex-
pected the mental hygiene clinics
now functioning in nine counties
to cover the entire State next
year.
Their aim Is to diagnose begin
ming mental ailments and initiate
treatment before they become
acute enough for patients to be
placed in institutions.
The project is patterned after
one in New York where, DR.. Riley
noted, it has done much to reduce
the number of inmates in State
mental institutions.
Similar results in Maryland
would greatly aid in solving diff
culties due to overcrowding at
mental hospitals.
Looking back on 1949, the
Health Department chief pro-
claimed it year "of steady prog
ress in many directions"
Nurse Shortage Eased.
The mental hygiene clinics were
one step forward, he declared.
Another was the fact that "our
full-scale tuberculosis problem is
really getting into shape, and we
are raising the standard Of treat
ment for tuberculosis patients
generally" DR.. Riley said.
A nursing shortage, almost
critical at the start Of 1949, has
been greatly eased, he added.
One problem that has been nag
ging at the department for some
years has stayed right with II
through 1949, and will continue
in 1850. That problem is hous-
ing-for itself.
The department here is scat
tered through several distant
buildings. Some, including the
main one. are rather ramshackle
affairs.
Under present conditions, DR..
Riley said, 1t is difficult to oper-
ate at maximum efficiency, to
keep In touch with all the various
activities closely enough"
The current lease expires in
1851. and then therell "be no
place for us to CO." he said. The
department may get a one-year
extension in 1851, but it hopes
for an appropriation to provide
itself with q modern, adequate
headquarters by that time.
Out-Patient Service Started.
Maryland's medical care pro-
gram, reported DR.. Dean Roberts,
who is in charge Of it. counted
four major achievements in 1949.
First. a second chronic disease
hospital was virtually completed,
though the 300-bed institution
at Salisbury-won't start opera
ton until 1850.
Secondly. q new activity was
added to medical INDECENT serv-
ices. Under q legislative author
ization Of the 1919 General As
sembly. the department added out
patient service to It's program.
From July through October, the
department thus provided for 65.-
900 dispensary visits.
While these operations have
been confined to Baltimore, where
IA hospitals are cooperating in
the project. the counties are to be
organized along that line next
year, DR.. Roberts said.
Then the department took over
the major share In the impatient
covering indigents and
medical indigents who need hos
pital care. It was transferred
from the State Welfare to the
State Health Department.
Heart Program Begun.
The former now merely deter
mines financial need Of appi-
cants. Medical and other super
vision is In Health Department
hands.
Finally. DR.. Roberts. noted, 81
small 'but potentially significant"
has been added by start
ing q heart disease control pro-
gram.
That project got under way on
an experimental basis In Wico-
u1ico County, where the technique
Of prevention and relief Of heart
Affections is being explored"
Among the chief defects OF the