London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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39
work as measured by the continued attendance. Although the number of attendances
of patients who attend for the first time towards the end of the year is not
included, the loss is balanced by the addition of the later attendances of patients
who entered the clinic for the first time in the previous year and who therefore do
not rank for inclusion among the" new cases" of the year under consideration.
For the year 1928, however, the figures arrived at by both the old and new method
of calculation are given. The total attendances were 763,535, and the ratio of all
attendances to each new V.D. case was 46. This figure is comparable with 40 for
1927 and 38 for 1926 and therefore shows a gradual advance over that for previous
years. Under the new method of calculation the total attendances of V.D. patients
were 710,760 and the radio of attendances of V.D. patients to new V.D. cases was
43. Even this figure shows an advance over the figure of 40 for 1927 under the
old calculation.
Comparative figures for the twelve years during which the scheme has been in force are shown in the following table:—
| Year. | New eases. | Total. | Attendances. | In-patient, days. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venereal. | Non-venereal. | ||||
| 1917 | 13,025 | 2,360 | 15,385 | 120,659 | 63,923 |
| 1918 | 13,679 | 2,693 | 16,372 | 169,485 | 66,095 |
| 1919 | 23,147 | 5,118 | 28,265 | 307,722 | 73,211 |
| 1920 | 24,454 | 6,592 | 31,046 | 464,033 | 81,612 |
| 1921 | 19,368 | 6,050 | 25,418 | 496,209 | 79,692 |
| 1922 | 17,763 | 5,950 | 23,713 | 529,003 | 112,564 |
| 1923 | 19,006 | 6,644 | 25,650 | 555,509 | 106,662 |
| 1924 | 18,281 | 7,292 | 25,573 | 589,002 | 102,456 |
| 1925 | 17,502 | 8,680 | 26,182 | 646,131 | 102,454 |
| 1926 | 17,724 | 8,988 | 26,712 | 687,075 | 101,735 |
| 1927 | 18,801 | 10,164 | 28,965 | 767,278 | 112,413 |
| 1928 | 16,401 | 9,595 | 25,996 | 763,535 | 65,106 |
Attention is also drawn to the very large number of non-venereal patients who
present themselves for examination. This appears to indicate quite clearly that the
general public is appreciating more and more the efforts which have been, and are
being made to spread far and wide a knowledge of the serious nature and grave
after-effects of the venereal diseases.
Another point worthy of note is the total number of examinations made of Pathology pathological specimens. Comparative figures for the twelve years are shown in the and bactericlogy. following table:—
| Year. | Pathological examinations. For treatment centres. For private practitioners. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 13,988 | 3,649 |
| 1918 | 25,973 | 6,380 |
| 1919 | 51,554 | 10,464 |
| 1920 | 58,920 | 14,027 |
| 1921 | 66,134 | 18,472 |
| 1922 | 74,022 | 19,836 |
| 1923 | 69,784 | 24,403 |
| 1924 | 79,005 | 24,797 |
| 1925 | 106,064 | 26,346 |
| 1926 | 100,543 | 27,565 |
| 1927 | 107,512 | 27,046 |
| 1928 | 107,410 | 29,785 |
The continued use made by medical practitioners of the facilities for the
examination of pathological specimens is highly satisfactory.
Under the Scheme, medical practitioners who fulfil certain conditions are entitled
to free supplies of the approved arsenobenzene preparations for the treatment of their
private patients. The number of medical practitioners availing themselves of this
service is now 459 as compared with 108 at the end of 1917, the first year of the
operation of the Scheme.