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

Islington 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]

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1927 28
ing. This danger can be very much reduced if people using geysers and water
heaters for hot baths would :—
1. Open the window a little at the top and leave the door wide open while
the water is heating.
2. Undress in their bedrooms, and on entering the bathroom turn out the
gas before starting to bathe.
3. Hang on the door a notice to say "occupied" rather than bolt the
door.
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS.
The deaths due to accident numbered 136. Of this number 60 deaths were
ascribed to vehicular traffic and 32 to accidental falls, including 22 aged people.
The 60 deaths due to accidents in vehicular traffic may be summarised as
follow :—
Motor Car Other
or Lorry. Bus or Tram. Taxi-cab. Vehicles. Total.
36 10 3 11 60
Of this number, 28 deaths occurred to Islington residents when in outlying
districts.
In addition to these, 17 non-residents were also killed by vehicles within the
borough.
INQUESTS AND MORTUARY.
During the year 309 bodies were received into the Mortuary, as compared
with an average of 352 in the preceding 10 years.
Only three infectious bodies were received during the year.
The daily average number of bodies received was 0.8, and equalled that of
1926.

Table: In 240 cases inquests were held, as contrasted with an average of 315 in the ten years 1917-26.

In 240 cases inquests were held, as contrasted with an average of 315 in the ten years 1917-26.

Bodies received into MortuaryInquests.
1917479359
1918476348
1919429321
1920340312
1921313299
1922316307
1923288279
1924294317
1925275306
1926308305
Average352315
1927309240

Table: The following Table gives a return of the bodies received into the Mortuary and the inquests held by the Coroner during the years 1927 and 1926 :—

The following Table gives a return of the bodies received into the Mortuary and the inquests held by the Coroner during the years 1927 and 1926 :—

1927No. of bodies received.Daily Average.No. of Inquests held.1926No. of bodies received.Daily Average.No. of Inquests held.
1st Quarter740.8811st Quarter790.884
2nd „680.7692nd „600.654
3rd „760.8323rd „890.976
4th „911.0584th „810.991
Total for year30908240*Total for year3080.8305*
* Inclusive of Inquests held by the Coroner upon bodies of deceased persons who died in Public Institutions in the borough.