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79
we can hardly expect our specialists to maintain their undoubted
high standard without ample support and modern facilities.
For control of venereal diseases there are those who consider
the problem one of infectious disease and others as one socially
orientated and concerning personal relationships, i.e. a matter for
public health and medical measures or health education and social
action. Without doubt, a combination of both will eventually be
necessary.
Health education is of the utmost importance in prevention but
such a great deal depends upon family and group environment and
the subject's susceptibility to example.
In the armoury of prevention, sex education is, regrettably,
proving a double-edged weapon and prophylaxis still awaits a
vaccine for syphilis and a reliable serological test for gonorrhoea.
Meanwhile, with the failure of society by example to proscribe
promiscuity, contact tracing, although somewhat limited, remains
the one practical method of control.
At the Greenwich District Hospital Centre in the Miller Wing,
new cases of venereal disease treated during 1970 showed little
change from those of the previous year while at the Dreadnought
Seamen's Hospital Centre the total (applicable to males only)
decreased by 4%. Even so, current figures from both centres are
still substantially in excess of those for 1968, indicating the
serious underlying trend.
I am indebted to Drs. A. Grimble and D. Erskine, Physicians i/c
at the Miller and Dreadnought (Seamen's Hospital) Treatment
Centres respectively for the following statistics for 1970. In commenting
on the reciprocity regarding facilities in neighbouring
boroughs, Dr. Erskine of the Dreadnought Centre observes that
"the considerable attendances in venereal disease clinics at present
are primarily related to the propaganda which appears from time
to time on the television and in the press and do not of themselves
reflect a high incidence of disease as a large number of these
patients merely come for tests and reassurance".