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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Table II
| Fall: On stairs | 40 | 37 | 41 |
| From ladder | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| From chair | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Outside (i.e., windows, balconies, roofs, etc.) | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| In garden | 15 | 10 | 8 |
| In bath | — | 1 | — |
| From one level to another (i.e., tables, boxes, beds, etc.) | 14 | 14 | 11 |
| On same level (i.e., in room, over objects) | 26 | 19 | 35 |
| Unspecified | 74 | 80 | 85 |
| Hit by Object | 15 | 5 | 5 |
| Cooking stove (saucepans, water, fats, etc.) | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Teapot | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Other boiling water | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Electric shock | 1 | — | 1 |
| Poisoning (including foreign objects) | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| Gassing | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Knife-like wounds (including spikes and cuts from glass) | 23 | 17 | 12 |
| Fires | 8 | 3 | 8 |
| Windows (trapping) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Suffocation | — | 1 | 1 |
| Not specified | 4 | 18 | 15 |
| Total | 270 | 251 | 262 |
| Rate Per 10,000 population | 22.9 | 21.3 | 23.7 |
Burial of Deceased Persons.
Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the Council
are responsible for the burial or cremation of the body of any person
dying, or being found dead, in the Borough, and have power to recover
from the estate of the deceased person, or from any person who, under
the Act, was liable to maintain the deceased immediately prior to his
death, their expenses incurred in carrying out the duty, in so far as
these expenses are not covered by any grant made under the National
Insurance Act, 1946.
During the year, 7 cases were dealt with.
The burials arranged by the Council are carried out by a local
undertaker under contract, and not more than one coach is provided
for followers. The Health Department make the arrangements and
collect all available information regarding any estate left by the deceased,
particulars of his National Insurance, and the existence of any "liable"
relatives. This information is passed to the Borough Treasurer so that
he make take steps to recover the cost.
The total cost incurred in dealing with the 7 cases was £124
approximately, and of this amount £105 was recovered.