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Unattested Deaths.— No less than 25 deaths were
registered as "uncertified." 16 in Battersea, 7 in
Wandsworth, and 2 in Streatham. Surely no method
could be devised more calculated to diminish the protective
power of registration and valuable nature of the vital
statistics it gives, than the method of taking the crude
notions of friends or the questionable authority of unskilled
persons, to avoid and often evade an inquest. But it
appears a matter of serious import when we find a death
registered as "unknown" without any inquest having
been held upon it; and we are compelled to ask if such
discretionary power is given to the Coroner as to allow
such an entry to be made, and, if so, to question the
wisdom of such latitude. It seems almost incredible that
so many deaths should be uncertified in a community,
where not even the question of expense need stand in the
way of having proper medical attendance and a legal
certificate.
Sanitation.—In Table VI. in the Appendix the
sanitary labours of the year are represented in a tabulated
manner; but it is needless to say that these figures can
convey no adequate idea of the work accomplished,
A general improvement has been made in all the branches
of sanitary work. More houses, &c., have been inspected
during the past year than during the previous years.
A much larger number of cesspools have been abolished,
and better drainage arrangements presumably made.
There is increased activity in the removal of piggeries, and
of refuse accumulations, as well as in the cleansing and