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22
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.—TRAINING OF HEALTH VISITORS.
Arrangements have been made that the facilities available at the Tuberculosis Dispensary
shall be placed at the disposal of the College of Nursing, in order that that body can give to
their Health Visitor Students a short course of practical experience in Tuberculosis work
as undertaken by a Tuberculosis nurse. These courses are to start during 1929, and will
doubtless prove of considerable value in the future training of Health Visitors.
public health (prevention of tuberculosis) regulations, 1925.
It has not been necessary during the year to take any action in regard to the abovementioned
Regulations, which provide for the exercise of some control over persons suffering
from Tuberculous affections and who are engaged in certain occupations associated with
the milk trade.
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out at the Special Treatment
Centre for Venereal Diseases during the year 1928 :—
At the beginning of the year 392 males and 82 females were registered on the books
as being under treatment or observation, which compares with 399 males and 115 females at
the beginning of the previous year. Of these patients 224 males and 62 females were under
treatment for syphilis and 168 and 20 females for gonorrhoea. No patients were under
treatment for conditions other than venereal disease.
New patients admitted totalled 476 as compared with 425 in the previous year, and
485 in 1926 and 402 in 1925. 50 males and 10 females suffering from syphilis discharged
themselves before completing the first course, and 44 males and 13 females after completing
the first course, but before completion of treatment. 32 males and 15 females completed
treatment, but failed to submit themselves to final test; 20 males and 1 female were transferred
to other centres, whilst 7 males and 1 female were discharged after completion of
treatment and observation.
In the case of gonorrhoea, 140 males and 13 females, out of the total of 230 and 35 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 13,051, which total is
made up as follows :—
Syphilis. Soft Chancre. Gonorrhœa. Non-Veneral Conditions. Total Attendances.
Male. Female. Male. Female. Male. Female. *Male. Female. Male. Female.
4,221 1,946 — — 6,027 857 — — 10,248 2,803
In the interests of economy, In-patient treatment has been discontinued.
In the laboratories associated with the Centre 6,932 specimens were examined, 27 for
the detection of spirochetes, 1,029 for gonococci, 5,664 examinations for the Wassermann
or Sigma test, and 212 other examinations.

Included in the above total were *4,608 examinations for the Wassermann or Sigma
test at the request of general practitioners.
Sixteen 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.