Report on venereal diseases / Medical Advisory Committee (Scotland).

Date:
1944
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on venereal diseases / Medical Advisory Committee (Scotland). Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/28
    To THe Rr. Hon. THomas J6HNsTON, M.P., Secretary of State for Scotland. REPORT ON VENEREAL DISEASES 1. At our first meeting on 19th February, 1943, you stated that in view of the marked increase in venereal diseases, especially in certain areas, you would be glad of advice on how far propaganda might be helpful and on any new methods of approach. Subsequently, we appointed from among our number for the education of the public with regard to the dangers of venereal diseases and the need for early diagnosis and treatment, and (6) what improvements, if any, are required with regard to the arrangements for diagnosis, supervision, treatment and control of venereal diseases. The Sub-Committee held ten meetings in the course of which the experience and opinions of representative clinical and administrative experts were obtained in some detail. They visited various types of treatment centres, rural, urban and maritime, in order to acquire first-hand knowledge of the conditions under which clinics operate and the problems which are encountered, and at each place had informal but full discussion with the medical and lay staff. 2. We have indicated in the margin of our report by single vertical lines those recommendations which we consider are suitable for immediate adoption and by double vertical lines those which might be adopted at a later date. THE INCIDENCE OF VENEREAL DISEASES IN SCOTLAND 3. Enquiry was directed in the first instance to the extent of venereal diseases in Scotland in order to measure what increase, if any, has occurred since the outbreak of war. An actual increase in venereal diseases had un- doubtedly occurred but the incidence cannot be assessed as precisely as is possible for such infections as diphtheria, scarlet fever, etc. The mortality lists give no clue to the end results of syphilis or gonorrhcea ; deaths due to the remote sequele of venereal infection are commonly attributed to a non-specific pathology which masks the true causal factor. The available data by which morbidity can be measured refer only to patients dealt with at approved treat- ment centres, but what proportion of the total of infected persons is thus covered cannot be accurately estimated. The extent to which venereal diseases are treated outwith approved centres—and therefore not included in official statistics—is not known. We have reason to believe, however, that nearly all cases of syphilis are referred to clinics, but with the advent of sulphonamide therapy there is a possibility that an increasing number of gonorrhceal in- fections are being treated by private practitioners. 4, Although they provide a measure of the number of persons who acquire infection within any one year, the official returns mclude persons who are recorded as “new cases”’ by more than one centre ; this occurs especially as regards seamen whose treatment in a given year may be spread over several clinics. We regard it as essential that each case should be so identified and recorded that it will be included as a “‘ new ”’ case in the returns of one centre only. The returns from Local Authorities, interpreted in broad terms rather than in statistical detail, may, nevertheless, be taken on the whole as a reliable index of the trend of venereal diseases.
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