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38
The following table gives a significant picture of
the ages of the patients who attended. It shows that more
than a third of the women were aged 20 or under; fifteen
per cent of the males were in this age group; between them,
they provided a quarter of those who visited the Clinics.
These figures highlight the part young people may now
be playing in the dissemination of infection.

The available evidence supports the view that most
of the immigrants were, infected after arrival in this
country: however, four of them showed evidence of previous
infection with yaws, a non-venereal condition common in
tropical countries where hygiene standards are poor.
In the absence of notification, and without accurate
knowledge of the numbers in the population - white and
coloured - not born in the United Kingdom (the estimation
of which is complicated by frequent change of residence),
it is not possible to assess the true and comparative
incidence of venereal diseases in Camberwell. The actual
numbers recorded by two hospitals (and returns from a third
for a short period) show, nevertheless, that in Camberwell
as in most of the other large towns in this country, the
amount of venereal disease is such as to cause considerable
anxiety.
The information available suggests that promiscuity
among young people (of which the high proportion of illegitimate
births is a further index) and the impact of a
large immigrant population are two of the major causes.
The first is closely linked with sociological and moral
standards, it also calls for a more intensive effort in
the health education of young people in the schools and
elsewhere, and of parents, many of whom have little knowledge
of the risks and dangerous long-term effects of the
venereal infections. Immigrants have been made up largely