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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50
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 1958, are set out in
the following table:—
| Post-mortem only | 134 | 381 | 144 | 45 | 704 |
| Post-mortem and inquest | 26 | 85 | 21 | 9 | 141 |
| 160 | 466 | 165 | 54 | 845 | |
| Inquest only | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26 | 85 | 21 | 9 | 141 | |
| Sanitary and other reasons | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 |
| Total bodies received | 162 | 468 | 165 | 54 | 849 |
| Verdicts at Inquests held— | |||||
| Natural causes | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Accident and misadventure | 11 | 43 | 15 | 6 | 75 |
| Open verdict | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | 9 |
| Suicide | 10 | 34 | 5 | — | 49 |
| Alcoholism | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Industrial disease | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| Referred to Central Criminal Court | — | 4 | — | — | 4 |
| TOTAL | 27 | 85 | 25 | 8 | 145 |
In addition to the above, sixteen inquests were held at the Coroner's
Court. No bodies were received into the Mortuary for these inquests.
The four cases referred to the Central Criminal Court proved to
be one homicide, one infanticide and two of unlawfully killing by a
motor car.
The Wandsworth Borough Council made a grant of £475 towards
the cost of maintaining the Mortuary.
The London County Council pay a rent of £450 per annum for the
use of the Coroner's Court.