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more readily utilised by the travelling section of the male population
of Croydon, and which are likely to be regarded as more
private.
It is to be noted that the Croydon clinic does not deal with men
who are free only in the evenings, as there is at present no evening
session. It is a matter for consideration whether the provision of
an evening session would not be of advantage.
(b) Clinics provided under the London scheme.
Croydon is a party to the general London scheme, under which
clinics for the treatment of venereal diseases are provided at 28
London hospitals, the cost being apportioned among the ten
County Councils and County Borough Councils which share in the
scheme.
The number of new Croydon patients who attended London
clinics during the year was 175, as against 153 in 1922; and the
attendances of Croydon patients increased to 2,816, as compared
with 2,304 in 1922. The development in the treatment of Croydon
patients has kept in general parallel with that for patients from
other areas attending the London clinics. Particulars as to the
work done in 1923 and a comparison with the work clone in each of
the years 1917 to 1922 are given in Tables X and X (a) in the
Appendix.
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
The educational work done during the year consisted in a
series of film demonstrations given at the Town Hall during one
week in September, by the courtesy of the National Council for
Combating Venereal Diseases.
On September 19th, at a mixed meeting, a film, "Waste,"
was shown, and an audience of about 50 had the advantage of an
address by Mr. E. B. Turner, F.R.C.S.
On September 20th a film, "The Gift of Life," was demonstrated
to about 100 women by Mrs. Clayton, of the N.C.C.V.D.,
and on the 21st the same film was exhibited to an audience of some
50 men, with an address by Dr. Feldman.
There is scope for more educational work in Croydon directed
towards enlightening parents, and those exposed to risks of infection,
as to the nature of these risks, the damage to body, mind, and
general happiness wrought by the disease, the cost to the individual,
to the municipality, and to the nation in money and in wellbeing.
Such educational work, done with discretion, need cause
no offence and may save much unnecessary wastage through these
diseases.