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28
Venereal Diseases.
In his annual report for the year 1916, Sir William Hamer, at that time County
Medical Officer of Health, gave particulars of a scheme for the provision of the
necessary facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal disease which had
been formulated as a result of conferences between representatives of the counties
of London, Buckingham, Essex, Hertford, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey, and of the
county boroughs of Croydon, East Ham and West Ham.
The Local Government Board, in due course, signified its approval of the scheme,
which came into operation on 1st January, 1917, and is known as the London and
Home Counties Scheme.
Hospitals.—The general and special hospitals undertaking in-patient or outpatient
treatment and other work under the scheme at the end of 1930, were as
follows:—
General Hospitals.—St. Thomas's; Seamen's; Royal Free (women); Guy's;
West London; Royal Northern; Middlesex; St. Mary's; St. George's; University
College; Metropolitan; King's College; Albert Dock; Miller General; St. John's,
Lewisham; Westminster.
Special Hospitals.—South London Hospital for Women; St. Paul's; Great
Ormond-street; Royal London Ophthalmic; Mothers' Hospital (Salvation Army),
Lower Clapton-road, E.; Children's, Waddon.
All-day clinics have been provided at St. Thomas's Hospital; St. Paul's Hospital;
Guy's Hospital; West London Hospital; The London County Council (Whitechapel)
Clinic and the Royal Free Hospital (women).
The number of new cases of venereal disease dealt with under the scheme during
1930 was 16,707, of which 5,225 were syphilis, 11,123 gonorrhoea, and 359 soft
chancre. Comparing these figures with those of the previous year, it will be
observed that the total of new cases dealt with is 722 more than in 1929.
Year.
Syphilis.
Gonorrhoea.
Soft chancre.
Non-venereal.
Total.
1929 4,931 10,774 280 8,801 24,786
1930 5,225 11,123 359 10,162 26,869
Increase +
or decrease —
+ 294 +349 + 79 +1,361 +2,083

With regard to the new cases of venereal disease, an attempt was made to
ascertain whether the infection was of less or more than one year's standing in patients
attending the clinics for the first time during the year 1930. The returns received