London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough.
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52
The Council have two flats attached to the Personal Cleansing
Station for the temporary use in emergency of people or a family displaced,
usually following fumigating procedure. The Council have
agreed that these shelters may be used for Wandsworth residents at an
annual fee of £25 for the right to use the shelters and a weekly charge
of £1 10s. 0d. per shelter for every case sent there.
Coroner's Court and Mortuary.
Details as to the number of inquests held at the Coroner's Court,
and bodies received into the Mortuary, during 1954, are set out in the
following table: —
| Usual place of residence | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batter- sea | Wands-worth | Else-where | Resi-dence un-known | ||
| Post-mortem only | 172 | 368 | 134 | 8 | 682 |
| Post-mortem and inquest | 34 | 82 | 33 | 5 | 154 |
| 206 | 450 | 167 | 13 | 836 | |
| Inquest only | - | - | - | - | - |
| 34 | 82 | 33 | 5 | 154 | |
| Sanitary and other reasons | - | - | - | - | |
| Total bodies received | 206 | 450 | 167 | 13 | 836 |
| VERDICTS AT INQUESTS HELD | |||||
| Natural causes | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Accident and mis-adventure | 20 | 40 | 25 | 3 | 88 |
| Open verdict | 1 | 3 | 3 | - | 7 |
| Suicide | 12 | 36 | 3 | - | 51 |
| Alcoholism | - | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| Total | 34 | 82 | 33 | 5 | 154 |
The Wandsworth Borough Council again made a grant of £250
towards the cost of maintaining the Mortuary.
The London County Council pay a rent of £450 for the use of
the Coroner's Court.