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Venereal Diseases

Statistics for previous years are not obtainable since the present London Boroughs did not come
into existence until April, 1965. ForHaringeytherewasan increase of 22.9 percent in the 1967 figures
as compared with the numbers in 1966. Althoughthismustgivesomecausefor alarm, due consideration
must be given to the nature of the information. The table supplied refers to Haringey patients attending
the clinic in Haringey. It used to be thought, however, that V.D. patients preferred to attend a clinic
as far as possible from their home. We receive reports also of numbers of residents who attended
hospitals in other parts of London. Notall clinics however, send this information, so the facts we have
are of necessity incomplete. There is a possibility, moreover, that although there probably is an
increase in Haringey (as elsewhere in London and in the country at large), this might not be as great
as the Prince of Wales's figures suggest, and may largely reflect a tendency for a greater proportion of
patients to seek treatment locally possibly due to better publicity about the local clinic. A freer
attitude towards sexual adventure may well be accompanied by a feeling that there is less need to
conceal the consequences. We have evidence of this trend in the reduced demand for Mother and Baby
Homes. Unmarried mothers are not as anxious now as they were to have their babies well away from
the district where they live, and many now choose or are allowed by their parents to remain at home.
It would be wrong to assume thatthe increase in venereal diseases is occurring only in the young.
In fact, a wide range of age groups and occupations is involved. Those most at hazard tend to be
lonely and mobile; merchant seamen, long-distance lorry drivers, members of pop groups and so on. The
young, if anything, are the least promiscuous in the strict sense of the term. Their liaisons,though
perhaps unconventional, tend to show that they often remain faithful after their fashion. Illegitimacy
is a greater problem with them than venereal disease.
There is no other way of preventing venereal disease except avoiding promiscuity. Precautions
may help to reduce the risk of catching it, but none of them is wholly effective, even if the individuals
concerned are in a fit state to carry them out.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
The environmental health functions of the Department have been carried out systematically, but
as the number of qualified public health inspectors inpost continued to be belowthe approved establishment,
careful planning has been necessary to ensure that the most essential work received priority.
Wherever possible, technical assistants are used to assist the public health inspectors, but until the
full establishment of qualified inspectors can be achieved, it will not be possible to cover morefully
all aspects of the work.
The Council recognise the need to provide facilities for the training of new inspectors and has
agreed to appoint pupils in accordance with revised recommendations of the Public Health Inspectors
Education Board of one trainee for every three inspectors in post.
Drainage and Sewerage
There are separate systems of drainage for soil and surface water. The former connects into East
Middlesex Drainage System and the sewage is treated at Deephams Purification Works,Edmonton.
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