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
City of London 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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22
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out at the Special Treatment
Centre for Venereal Diseases during the year 1929:—
At the beginning of the year 324 males and 98 females were registered on the books
as being under treatment or observation, which compares with 392 males and 82 females at
the beginning of the previous year. Of these patients 201 males and 70 females were under
treatment for syphilis and 123 and 28 females for gonorrhoea. No patients were under
treatment for conditions other than venereal disease.
New patients admitted totalled 498 as compared with 476 in the previous year, and
425 in 1927 and 485 in 1926. 41 males and 6 females suffering from syphilis discharged
themselves before completing the first course, and 20 males and 7 females after completing
the first course, but before completion of treatment. 2 males and 1 female completed
treatment, but failed to submit themselves to final test; 5 males and 2 females were transferred
to other centres after treatment for syphilis, whilst 7 males and 1 female were discharged
after completion of treatment and observation.
In the case of gonorrhoea, 55 males and 23 females, out of the total of 377 and 68 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 14,095, which total is
made up as follows:—
Syphilis. Soft Chancre. Gonorrhoea. Non-Veneral Conditions. Total Attendances.
Male. Female. Male. Female. Male. Female. Male. Female. Male. Female.
4,494 2,160 — — 6,223 1,104 84 30 10,801 3,294
In the interests of economy, In-patient treatment has been discontinued.
In the laboratories associated with the Centre 6,834 specimens were examined, 24 for
the detection of spirochetes, 941 for gonococci, 5,697 examinations for the Wassermann
or Sigma test, and 172 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 W'assermann or Sigma test in respect of these patients:—
| For Syphilis. | No. of patients treated. For Gonorrhoea. For Non-Venereal Conditions. | For Spirochetes. | Examinations. For Wassermann or For Gonococci. Sigma Test. For Non-Venereal Reactions. Conditions. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 124 | 246 | 108 | 24 | 906 | 5,689 | 212 |
| Essex | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 4 | 3 | — |
| Herts | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — |
| Surrey | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 16 | 4 | — |
| Kent | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Sussex | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | |
| Totals | .... 129 | 255 | 114 | 24 | 941 | 5,697 | 212 |
Included in the above total were *4,451 examinations for the Wassermann or Sigma
test at the request of general practitioners.
No 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.