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193
MORTUARIES AND CORONERS' COURTS
The total number of bodies received at the two Borough
Mortuaries (High 'Street and Wanless Road) during 1909
was 369, as compared with 382 during 1908, and an annual
average for the old Parish of Lambeth for 5 years (18961900)
of 450. Of the 369 bodies, 260 were received' at High
Street and 109 at Wanless Road.
34 bodies were brought in by the Police (22 to High
Street and 12 to Wanless Road), and the rest by undertakers
or private persons.
The Coroners' Court sat 44 times at Wanless Road, 109
times at High Street.
During 1909 two infectious bodies (diphtheria, 1 male and
1 female) were received at Wanless Road Mortuary.
For comparison, details are given in tabular form of the
work carried out by the late Vestry of Lambeth m connection with the Wanless Road and High Street Mortuaries
during 5 years (1896-1900). Taking the average, it will be
seen that the total number of bodies received during 1909
in connection with the new Borough is 81 less than this
yearly average (450).
The number of post-mortems conducted for the Borough
during 1909 is 226, as compared with 208 during 1908, and
with 253, 281 , 275, 285, and 267 respectively during
5 years (1896-1900) for the old Parish, i.e., 17.1 per cent,
less tuan the yearly average (272.5) during the same quinquennium. Of the post-mortems, 62 took place at Wanless
Road1, and 164 at High Street.
The London County Council now pay a rent of £100.
instead of £80, per annum for the use of the High Street
Coroners' Court, such increased rental to cover the new
decorations, heating and ventilation of the Court itself, and
the New Waiting Room.
The Mortuary for Norwood has not yet been provided, but
it has been arranged for such a mortuary to be built in a
small part of the freehold site in Rommany Road, which is
being developed by the Council for a Dust Depot.