London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Lewisham 1954

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

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

21
Public Mortuary and Coroner's Court
The premises are situated in Ladywell Road and comprise a court
room, witness room, coroner's office, caretaker's apartments and
mortuary.
The number of bodies taken to the mortuary during the year was
735, of which 409 were received from institutions. 735 postmortem
examinations were made and inquests were held in 123 cases.
Details are shown in the following table :—

Table: Table 14

Table 14

MonthBodies received from InstitutionsOthersPost-mortem examinationsInquests
Lewisham residentsOthers
January4736552810
February353538327
March373342289
April3222312310
May3535393111
June3122213214
July242021236
August2822331710
September3424312710
October4020322817
November3020292110
December363742319
TOTALS409326414321123

Text

Copy text to clipboard

Rodent control
A section, consisting from May to September of a foreman and
three operatives and from October to April of the foreman and seven
operatives, is maintained for the purpose of repressing rat infestation,
and this section is supervised by the senior sanitary inspector.
A summary of the work carried out in private or business premises
during the year is appended :—

Table: Table 15

Table 15

Parliamentary DivisionTotal
WestNorthSouth
Properties inspected on complaint4684473881303
Premises baited :—
Initial treatments7117967702277
Retreatments (infestation found)7298126962237
No infestation found (initially or at re-
inspection)1126168218064614
Total visits66367207659220435
Rivers and ditches, base points98373218689
Other premises, base points168200193561