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be of any help in combating the disease. The matter was fully
discussed, and briefly the opinion of the meeting was as follows:—
That the only action of the nature indicated above likely to be of any
utility was propaganda and the spreading of information regarding
the disease among the medical profession and the public.
The matter is still under discussion, and at least one powerful
voluntary body has offered to co-operate.
Deaths from Violence (excluding Suicide).
24 deaths were classified under this heading as compared with 22
in 1922.
The causes of death were as follows:—3 due to murder, 8 to being
knocked down or run over by motor vehicles, 1 to drowning, 11 to
falls, and 1 to burns.
Suicide.
21 persons committed suicide, as compared with 12 in 1922.
The causes of death were as follows:—Gas poisoning, 7; drugs, 5;
revolver or pistol shot, 2; under trains, 3; jumping out of window, 2;
drowning, 1; cut throat, 1.
Venereal Diseases.
Under the terms of the Public Health (Venereal Diseases)
Regulations, 1916, the London County Council is the Authority for the
Administrative County of London (excluding the City).
There is a Local Propaganda Committee in the Borough which
seeks by means of lectures, and in other ways, to combat the evil.
The problem is a most difficult one, and there are several aims to
be kept in view, such as:—(a) The cure of the sufferers; (b) The
dissemination of information concerning the diseases. But while
methods are being discussed, and measures applied that do not
adequately deal with the situation, the diseases are being carried down
from one generation to another, and although I agree that notification
in the present state of public opinion is neither practicable nor
advisable, still, I think that eventually some form of notification must
be adopted. Until public opinion is so moulded, I am of opinion
that more good is likely to accrue from propaganda than from any
other action.