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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
City of London 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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20
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out at the Special Treatment
Centre for Venereal Diseases during the year 1926:—
At the beginning of the year 276 males and 105 females were registered on the books
as being under treatment or observation, which compares with 383 males and 145 females at
the beginning of the previous year. Of these patients, 181 males and 88 females were
under treatment for syphilis and 94 males and 47 females for gonorrhoea. One male was
under treatment for conditions other than venereal disease.
New patients admitted totalled 485 as compared with 402 in the previous year, and
417 in 1924 and 505 in 1923. 20 males and 18 females suffering from syphilis discharged
themselves before completing the first course, and 15 males and 14 females after completing
the first course, but before completion of treatment. 16 males and 6 females completed
treatment, but failed to submit themselves to final test; 21 males and 2 females were transferred
to other centres, whilst 20 males and 1 female were discharged after completion of
treatment and observation.
In the case of gonorrhoea, 92 males and 12 females, out of the total of 251 and 41 of
the respective sexes coming under treatment during the year for the first time, discharged
themselves before completion of the first course of treatment.
The total number of attendances of all persons at the clinic was 11,656, which total is made up as follows:—
| Syphilis. | Soft Chancre. | Gonorrhœa. | Non-Venereal Conditions. | Total Attendances. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male. | Female. | Male | Female. | Male. | Female. | Male. | Female. | Male. | Female. |
| 4,445 | 1,440 | — | — | 5,270 | 501 | 20 | — | 9,715 | 1,941 |
A few beds are provided at the Centre for in-patient treatment and the number of
days of such treatment totalled: males, 10; and females, 9.
In the laboratories associated with the Centre 6,351 specimens were examined, 27 for
the detection of spirochetes, 999 for gonococci, 5,023 examinations for the Wassermann
reaction, and 302 other examinations.
The following tabulation indicates the number of patients coming under treatment for the first time from the Counties stated and also the examinations which were made for the detection of Spirochetes, of Gonococci and for the Wassermann reaction in respect of these patients:—
| No. of patients treated. | For Spirochetes. | Examinations. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Syphilis. | For Gonorrhœa. | For Non-Venereal Conditions. | For Gonococci. | For Wassermann Reactions. | For Non-Venereal Conditions. | ||
| London | 136 | 287 | 51 | 25 | 985 | 5,003 | 302 |
| Essex | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 6 | 4 | — |
| Berks | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | — |
| Bucks | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
| Surrey | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — |
| Kent | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | — |
| Middlesex | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Dorset | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
| Totals | 141 | 292 | 52 | 27 | 1,002 | 5,020 | 302 |
Included in the above total were *3,992 examinations for the Wassermann reaction at
the request of general practitioners.
Eight specimens were submitted by general practitioners for examination for gonococci.
No specimens were submitted by general practitioners for examination for spirochetes
♦Includes tests made for St. Bartholomew's Hospital and the Metropolitan Asylums Board.