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18
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 1,060.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out during 1936.
At the beginning of the year 436 males and 192 females were registered on the books
as being under treatment or observation, which compares with 534 males and 192 females
at the beginning of the previous year. Of these patients, 278 males and 171 females were
under treatment for syphilis, 154 males and 11 females for gonorrhoea, and 4 male and no
females for soft chancre. No males and 10 females were under treatment for conditions
other than venereal disease.
New patients admitted totalled 1,069, as compared with 927 in the previous year, the
total attendances were 31,565. Unfortunately, 261 cases discharged themselves before
completion of treatment, and 100, although completing treatment, failed to submit themselves
to final test.
Forty-six males and 11 females were transferred to other centres after treatment, whilst
502 males and 122 females were discharged after completion of treatment and observation.
There were 8 in-patients.

In the laboratories associated with the Centre, 11,256 specimens were examined, 30
for the detection of spirochetes, 1,188 for gonococci, 9,536 examinations for the Wassermann
or Serum test, and 502 for other examinations.