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18
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The Special Centre for the Treatment of Venereal Diseases, which, in accordance with
the powers under the Public Health (Venereal Diseases) Regulations, 1916, the City Corporation
established at 20/21, Golden Lane—previously occupied as a shelter, and specially
altered to meet the requirements—was transferred to St. Bartholomew's Hospital on the
17th February, 1930.
This step was deemed expedient for economic and other reasons, and it is satisfactory
to note that the number of persons availing themselves of the opportunity afforded has,
since that date, shown steady average increase, the total number of new cases in the year
being 1,073.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out during 1934 :
At the beginning of the year 524 males and 203 females were registered on the books
as being under treatment or observation, which compares with 489 males and 187 females
at the beginning of the previous year. Of these patients, 334 males and 177 females were
under treatment for syphilis, and 177 males and 24 females for gonorrhoea. Thirteen males
and 2 females were under treatment for conditions other than venereal disease.
New patients admitted totalled 1,073, as compared with 1,023 in the previous year, the
total attendances were 32,130. Unfortunately, 294 cases discharged themselves before completion
of treatment, and 90, although completing treatment, failed to submit themselves to
final test.
Forty-four males and 13 females were transferred to other centres after treatment,
whilst 524 males and 100 females were discharged after completion of treatment and
observation.
There were 5 in-patients.

In the laboratories associated with the Centre, 8,764 specimens were examined, 23
for the detection of spirochetes, 1,744 for gonococci, 6,745 examinations for the Wassermann
or Serum test, and 252 for other examinations.