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28
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
There is little to report in the field of occupational
therapy as for several months there was no occupational therapist
and the scheme was unfortunately in abeyance. However, in
the autumn a new appointment was made and home bound patients
were able to resume their programme of handiwork during the
winter months. A small sale of work was held just before Cristmas,
and it is hoped to arrange a permanent show case in the
Chest Clinic to display goods made by the patients, in order
both to stimulate interest and orders.
VENEREAL DISEASES
The usual returns, for which I am indebted to J. R. Crumbie,
Esq., P. R. C.S., are set out in the Appendix, page 127. The
graph which shows the number of Croydon residents who made a
first attendance at the clinic at the Croydon General Hospital
records a further rise in the prevalence of gonorrhoea. Although
small, this conforms with the national trend and suggests
a real increase in this infection.
Last year, in commenting on the incidence of venereal diseases,
I concluded that the efficacy of antibiotic treatment
was the probable reason for the post-war reduction. Reports from
Venereologists suggest that the gonococcus-the germ which
causes gonorrhoea-is becoming resistant to penicillin and
changes in treatment will be needed.
Since there are different methods of using penicillin and
other antibiotics are also available, it is reasonable to assume
that this is only a temporary setback in the struggle of man
against microbe.