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Two welfare officers appointed by the Council work from the ^hitechapel
Clinic under the direction of Dr. E.M.C. Dunlop, M.D. , F. R.C.P . , Medical Director
of the Clinic, for tracing contacts and following up defaulters.
Dr. Dunlop reports as follows:-
"We dealt with 215 new cases of syphilis in 1970 compared with 229 in 1969,
with 1 882 new oases of gonorThoparcompat-ed with l,693iand with 8,109 cases of
other conditions compared with 8,003 last year.
The highest total for new cases (2,524) was for Tower Hamlets representing
an increase on the figure for 1969 which was 2,469. The figures for Tower
Hamlets included 52 cases of syphilis, compared with 72 for 1969, and 541 cases
of gonorrhoea compared with 466.
There has been an increase of 75 in the number of cases of gonorrhoea for
Tower Hamlets. This increase would undoubtedly have been greater if it had not
been for the activities of the Contact Tracers. By bringing infected women to
treatment they have kept the infectious "reservoir" of gonorrhoea as small as
possible.
In the period January to December 1970, 5 of 17 alleged sources of early
syphilis in men were brought for examination and 3 were found to be infected.
Five other contacts attended and 3 were found to be infected.
In the same period 1,270 male patients suffering from gonorrhoea were seen;
434 women who were alleged sources of infection were examined. Of this number
409 (92%) were infected. 181 other contacts were also examined and 127 (70%)
were found to be infected."
Mrs. Lamb, one of our Contact Tracers at the Whitechapel Clinic reports as
fol1ows:-
"in December 1964 more active contact tracing was commenced at the Clinic.
The intention was to try to gain enough information from the male patients who
were suffering from syphilis or gonorrhoea to ensure the attendance of their
contacts and thereby reduce the spread of venereal infection.
In the clinic I interviewed any man who was found to be infected. I found
the majority of patients were co-operative and tried to be helpful. When possible
I completed a form giving details of the contact, including name and address, ,
full description and any other relevant information. I tried to build up a
composite picture of the woman; of her habits such as smoking, drinking and
drug taking and of the cafes and public houses she might frequent. This interview
couldbelong and although it demanded patience and perseverance it was sometimes
most rewarding and I rarely met with rudeness or antagonism.
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