London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Deptford 1908
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1908
This page requires JavaScript
14
By a singular coincidence the Mortuary was first used and the
first post-mortem examination was made by myself on July 1st, 1908.
The Coroner's Court, which stands by itself, consists of the Court
which is 30-ft. by 21 -ft., with fittings in oak by Messrs. G. M.
Hammer & Co., Ltd., a Witnesses' Room, 16-ft. 4-in. by 11-ft. 4-in.,
and a private room for the Coroner, 14-ft. by 14-ft., with a lavatory
and w.c. adjoining. Separate sanitary conveniences are also provided
for men and women respectively.
There are five rooms above, the apartments of the Mortuary
Keeper, who is also Caretaker of the whole premises.
During the year 67 bodies were received into the Mortuary. Register of Bodies Received into the Mortuary During the year ending January 2nd, 1909.
| Total. | Males. | Females. | Post Mortems. | Inquests. | Brought in to await burial. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 47 | 20 | 47 | 57 | 5 |
Bodies Belonging to
| Borough of Deptford | Borough of Greenwich. | Borough of Bermondsey | Borough of Camberwell. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
INQUESTS.
The number of inquests held on inhabitants of Deptford during
the year was 101, of which 57 were held in the borough, the remaining
44 being on residents of Deptford who died in public institutions
outside the borough.
The following table gives the result of the inquests held during the year:—
| Natural Causes | 42 |
| Accidents | 44 |
| Suffocation | 2 |
| Suicides | 6 |
| Drowning | 7 |
| 101 |