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Societies engaged in combating these diseases, and at the Committee's
request, arrangements were made with the two Societies, viz. :—
The National Council for Combating Venereal Diseases, and
The Society for the Prevention of Venereal Diseases,
each to send a representative to set out the views of his respective
Society on the subject. The meeting was held at the Town Hall on the
24th November, and at the express desire of the Public Health Committee
all members of the Council were specially invited to be present.
The National Council were represented by Mr. E. B. Turner,
F.R.C.S., and the Society for Prevention by their Honorary Secretary,
Mr. H. Wansey Bayly, M.C., M.A., M.R.C.S.
After carefully considering the methods and aims of the two
Societies, the Council resolved, on 23rd December, to approve the aims
and general policy of the National Council for Combating Venereal
Diseases, and decided to inform the London County Council and both
Societies accordingly.
During 1920 no death of a Hampstead resident was registered as
being due to venereal disease; this cannot be regarded as an accurate
indication of the facts. At present there seems to be no adequate
means of obtaining this information. In any attack upon venereal
disease it seems to me of the first importance to ascertain what is the
mortality due to this disease, and I am of opinion that such information
could be readily obtained by extending the system of notification of
births to the notification of deaths. Thus, if the Medical Attendant
were required to notify deaths to the Medical Officer of Health as they
re required under the Notification of Births Act to notify births, a
much more reliable guide to the death-rate from snch causes as
alcoholism and venereal diseases would be obtained.