London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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16
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
Certain modifications in the existing practice of the London County Council, in regard
to the use of their ambulances by public authorities and private persons in cases of illness,
were made during the year. These revisions do not affect the existing scale of charges
agreed upon between the Corporation and the London County Council in regard to the City's
duties under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act. They were, however, of considerable
importance to City medical men and City residents, and copies of a pamphlet giving details
of the facilities afforded by the London Ambulance Service, together with a statement of
the new charges, were forwarded to doctors practising within the City area. Copies are
included in the Appendices to this report (Appendix F).
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.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.—TRAINING OF HEALTH VISITORS.
The facilities available at the Tuberculosis Dispensary are 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.
This should prove of considerable value in all future training of health visitors.
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The Special Centre for the Treatment of Venereal Diseases, which, in accordance with
the powers under the Public Health (Venereal Diseases) Regulations, 1916, the City Corporation
established at 20/21, Golden Lane—previously occupied as a shelter, and specially
altered to meet the requirements—was transferred to St. Bartholomew's Hospital on the
17th February, 1930.
This step was deemed expedient for economic and other reasons, and it is satisfactory
to note that the number of persons availing themselves of the opportunity afforded has,
since that date, shown steady average increase, the total number of new cases in the year
being 981.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out during 1932:—
At the beginning of the year 563 males and 220 females were registered on the books
as being under treatment or observation, which compares with 510 males and 186 females
at the beginning of the previous year. Of these patients, 374 males and 198 females were
under treatment for syphilis, and 189 males and 22 females for gonorrhoea. No patients
were under treatment for conditions other than venereal disease.
New patients admitted totalled 981, as compared with 1,075 in the previous year,
the total attendances were 26,069. Unfortunately, 278 cases discharged themselves before
completion of treatment, and 153, although completing treatment, failed to submit themselves
to final test.
Twenty-seven males and 17 females were transferred to other centres after treatment,
whilst 486 males and 127 females were discharged after completion of treatment and
observation.
There were 5 in-patients.

The total number of attendances is made up as follows:—

Syphilis.Soft Chancre.Gonorrhoea.Non-Venereal Conditions.Total Attendances.
Male.Female.Male.Female.Male.Female.Male.Female.Male.Female.
11,5004,8358,62362238410520,5075,562

In the laboratories associated with the Centre, 8,282 specimens were examined, 42
for the detection of spirochetes, 1,182 for gonococci, 6,730 examinations for the Wassermann
or Sigma test, and 228 for 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