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Attention is also drawn to the very large number of non-venereal patients who
present themselves for examination at the Clinics. In all probability this is a
direct result of the better education of the public in the knowledge of venereal diseases
and their effects. Many patients who have exposed themselves to possible infection,
come to the Clinics for examination in order to satisfy themselves that they are
not infected. In addition a considerable number of cases are referred for examination
from the maternity and child welfare clinics, lying-in hospitals and hospital outpatient
departments.

The increased use made by medical practitioners of the facilities for the examination
of pathological specimens is highly satisfactory.
While the total number of new cases as compared with 1921 has fallen 6.3 per
cent., a certain number of the Clinics show an increase, the most important of which
is St. Thomas' Hospital. This centre was established as an all-day clinic three years
ago, and was intended to act as a model representative of V.D. clinics in large
urban communities, and experience would seem to show the soundness of the
principle upon which this centre was established, viz.: (a) that the premises should
be specially designed for the convenience of both the medical staff and the patients;
(b) that the clinic should be open all day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; (c) that it should be
under the direction of a medical officer, whose duty it would be to co-ordinate all
branches of V.D. work, and to give instructions to students and practitioners in
the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. The table gives particulars for six
years.
Pathological examinations.
Year. New cases. Attendances.
For centre. For practitioners
1917 1,433 11,770 1,504 152
1918 1,289 14,134 2,150 179
1919 2,513 34,990 4,585 238
1920 3,253 75,602 6,661 136
1921 4,086 113,341 16,149 77
1922 4,559 149,682 23,557 345
The work done at this clinic in 1922 compared with the work done by the 28
centres in London was as follows:—New cases, 19" 1 per cent.; attendances, 28.3
per cent.; pathological examinations, 25.4 per cent.
It is somewhat remarkable that the number of pathological examinations
made for general practitioners was so low, but it appears that a large number of
examinations of pathological specimens are made in the general laboratory of the
Hospital, and that the figures for such are not included in those of the clinic.
Failure to
complete
treatment.
With regard to the question of patients ceasing to attend before the completion
of treatment, reference has frequently been made of late to this factor as one of the
gravest defects in the present arrangements for the treatment of venereal diseases.
It is undoubtedly true that defaulting does occur, but the extent to which this defect
exists is often considerably exaggerated. This is due to the fact that when defaulting
is spoken of it is assumed that it represents a state of affairs in which patients go to