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Venereal Diseases.
Under the Public Health (Venereal Diseases) Regulations,
1916, West Ham is included in the Joint Scheme approved for
the Greater London Area, the participating authorities being
the London County Council, the Counties of Middlesex, Essex,
Hertford, Buckingham, Surrey and Kent, and the County
Boroughs of West Ham, East Ham and Croydon. Under the
Scheme free treatment can be obtained by anyone (who has
acquired Venereal Disease) at any of the 24 Hospitals approved
under the joint agreements. There are also seven Hostels,
assisted by financial grants, where women suffering from either
of these diseases can be accommodated, with a view to facilitating
continued treatment. Provision is made for enabling
Medical Practitioners to obtain laboratory reports on suspected
material or specimens, and for the free supply of Salvarsan
substitutes to practitioners who have obtained the necessary
qualification to be placed on the approved list. In addition to
paying its proportionate share of the cost of carrying out the
Scheme, approximately one-twenty-fifth of the total expenses
incurred, the Council makes a grant to the British Social Hygiene
Council to further propaganda work throughout the whole area.
Posters and enamel plaques pointing out the dangers of
Venereal Diseases, urging immediate treatment and giving a
list of Hospitals where treatment may be obtained free of cost,
are exhibited in many parts of the Borough including all public
sanitary conveniences.
Local Medical Practitioners are fully conversant with
the facilities for diagnosis and treatment of Venereal Disease,
and have a printed circular setting out all relevant details in
connection with the Scheme. There are twelve practitioners who
are qualified to receive supplies of arseno-benzol compounds.
The attached tables show the use made of the various centres
by patients and practitioners.
The following tables show the summary of work done
under the Scheme during last year, setting out for comparison the
particulars relating solely to West Ham and those relating to the
whole of the participating authorities.
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