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

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City of London 1938

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

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19
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 1,073,
as compared with 1,060 in the previous year.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out during 1938.
At the beginning of the year 476 males and 176 females were registered on the books
as being under treatment or observation, which compares with 452 males and 194 females
at the beginning of the previous year. Of these patients, 293 males and 156 females were
under treatment for syphilis, 181 males and 15 females-for gonorrhoea, and 2 males and no
females for soft chancre. No males and 5 females were under treatment for conditions
other than venereal disease.
The total attendances were 29,598. Unfortunately, 281 cases discharged themselves
before completion of treatment, and 129, although completing treatment, failed to submit
themselves to final test.
Forty-five males and 25 females were transferred to other centres or care of private
practitioners after treatment, whilst 544 males and 92 females were discharged after completion
of treatment and observation. «
There were 10 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.
13,225 7,360 9 — 7,340 * 939 581 144 21,155 8,443
In the laboratories associated with the Centre, 14,395 specimens were examined, 21
for the detection of spirochetes, 2,113 for gonococci, 11,476 examinations for the Wassermann
or Serum test, and 651 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 detection of Spirochetes, of Gonococci, and for the Wassermann or Serum test in respect of these patients:-

For Syphilis.No. of patients treated.For Non-Venereal Conditions.
For Soft Chancre.For Gonorrhœa.
London1844274429
Essex468
Surrey7412
Kent449
Herts.12
Bucks.2
Totals1994291460

The following summary shows the work carried out during each year that the Centre has been in operation.

Year.New Patients.Total.Total Attendances."606."Bismuth.Mercury.In-Pts.Path.Ex
Men.Women.
1917207872942,3401,193....33922372
19183041764808,3531,406....1,39171421
191960620180715,2691,763....1,782452,485
19207992541,05321,6893,690....2,800416,005
192157018875818,2163,584....2,859525,241
192246911758616,7022,637....2,851234,774
19233679846514,7102,049....2,13096,832
192430111641710,8901,5101,3681,50317,040
19253148840210,5411,7821,1981,19215,835
19263998648511,6561,8691,53976436,351
19273408042012,5011,7232,12436226,266
19283958147613,0511,7852,781206,932
192939610249814,0951,5803,042....06,822
19308162571,07320,6942,6015,509....118,212
19318532091,06226,3784,1756,860....248,555
193278519698126,0694,9167,021....58,282
19338451781,02330,3774,1558,532....68,314
19348662071,07332,1303,9979,314....58,764
193572520292731,2142,9676,4483,22968,709
19368681921,06031,5653,1326,2641,501811,256
19378402351,07532,8803,4196,964520812,557
19388963531,07329,5984,1959,4306661014,395
Totals11,9513,70315,478430,91861,12876,39423,873353164,420