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
Wandsworth 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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53
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 1965, are set out in the following table:—
| Details of Bodies Received | Usual Place of Residence | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wandsworth | Elsewhere | Residence unknown | ||
| Post-mortem only | 700 | 309 | 30 | 1,039 |
| Post-mortem and inquest | 108 | 74 | 5 | 187 |
| 808 | 383 | 35 | 1,226 | |
| Inquest only | — | — | — | — |
| 108 | 74 | 5 | 187 | |
| Sanitary and other reasons | 1 | — | 1 | |
| Total bodies received | 809 | 383 | 35 | 1,227 |
| Accidental and Misadventure | 58 | 36 | 2 | 96 |
| Alcoholism | — | 3 | — | 3 |
| Natural causes | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
| Industrial disease | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Open verdict | 2 | 3 | — | 5 |
| Suicide | 43 | 27 | 3 | 73 |
| Homicide | 2 | 2 | — | 4 |
| Referred to higher court | 2 | 1 | — | 3 |
| Total | 108 | 74 | 5 | 187 |
In addition to the above, a further 84 inquests were held at
the Coroner's Court in respect of which no bodies were received
into the Mortuary.
Following the decision of H.M. Coroner for Inner West London
to use the Coroner's Court in Sheepcote Lane, Battersea, for
inquests on the bodies of dead persons from the London Borough
of Merton in addition to those from Wandsworth, financial arrangements
were agreed between the two authorities which include the
use of the mortuary adjacent to the Court.
Crematorium Regulations, 1930
Under these regulations, 1,679 cremations were authorized
during the year.