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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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During the year, because of shortage of staff at the Wandsworth
cleansing Station, it was arranged for such women patients who
attended for cleansing to be transferred to the Battersea Personal
Cleansing Station, the cost of treatment being borne by the Wandsworth
Borough Council.
The Council have two flats attached to the Personal Cleansing
Station for the temporary use in emergency of people or a family
dis placed, usually following fumigating procedure. The Council have
agreed that these shelters may be used for Wandsworth residents at
an a nnual fee of £25 for the right to use the shelters and a weekly
charge of £1 10s. Od. 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 1955, are set out in
the following table :-
Battersea Mortuary, 1955.
| Details of Bodies Received | Usual Place of Residence | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battersea | Wandsworth | Elsewhere | Residence unknown | ||
| Post-mortem only | 171 | 350 | 126 | 12 | 659 |
| Post mortem and inquest | 35 | 112 | 30 | 8 | 185 |
| Total post-mortems | 206 | 462 | 156 | 20 | 844 |
| Inquest only | – | 6 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Total inquests | 35 | 118 | 31 | 9 | 193 |
| sanitary and other reasons | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Total bodies received | 207 | 469 | 158 | 22 | 856 |
| Verdicts at Inquests Held — | |||||
| Natural causes | – | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Accident and misadventure | 13 | 66 | 21 | 4 | 104 |
| Open verdict | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| Suicide | 15 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 58 |
| Homicide | – | 3 | 1 | – | 4 |
| Alcoholism | 1 | 2 | – | – | 3 |
| Inttention at birth | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Industrial disease | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 35 | 118 | 31 | 9 | 193 |
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
coroner's Court.
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