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

View report page

London County Council 1898

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

This page requires JavaScript

4
the construction of a wall, dividing the original mortuary chamber into two. Each has a separate door
approached from a common lobby. There is no viewing window, but lids with glass panels are provided,
and these are placed on the shell coffins when the coroner's jury view the body. The walls of the
mortuary chambers have been lined with glazed tiles, and there are fixed slate slabs and moveable trestles
on which the coffins rest. The post-mortem room is separate from the mortuary chambers and is
approached from the court-yard.
The City of London.—A mortuary has been provided in conjunction with a coroner's court in
Golden-lane. The mortuary accommodation consists of—
(1) A large well-lighted and ventilated chapel or mortuary chamber, containing slabs on
which the coffins rest.
(2) A post-mortem room suitably fitted up.
(3) A store-room in which is kept a hand ambulance for conveying bodies to the
mortuary.
Shoreditch.—The vestry have provided a mortuary in the churchyard of St. Leonard's. This
building contains two rooms, one is the mortuary chamber for the bodies of persons dying of infectious
and non-infectious diseases, as well as for bodies in regard to which a coroner's inquest is to be held.
There is a wood and glass screen at one end to form a lohby, from which bodies can be viewed without
entering the chamber. The second room is connected with the first by a doorway. This room is fitted
up as a post-mortem room. Improvements are to be effected by lining the walls with glazed tiles, and
providing means for heating water. Provision for the storage of empty shells is made underneath the
the parish church adjoining.
Bethnal-green.—The mortuary provided by the vestry is situated in Church-row. It contains
two mortuary chambers, one for the bodies of persons dying from infectious disease, the other for those
bodies awaiting interment or a coroner's inquest. There is no viewing window. A third room is fitted
up for use as a post-mortem room. In the passage leading to it, lavatory accommodation is provided.
Whitechapel.—Mortuary provision for the district has been made in conjunction with a coroner's
court at George-yard, Whitechapel High-street.
The mortuary rooms are situated on the first floor, a lift being provided for removing bodies
from the hearse to the mortuary. The building contains—
(a) A mortuary chamber, fitted up with catacombs, for bodies awaiting interment or a
coroner's inquest.
(b) a mortuary chamber for bodies of persons who have died from an infectious
complaint. This is entered from the ordinary mortuary chamber, and is provided with a
viewing window.
(c) A chamber for the use of the Jewish community, to which is attached a room for
watchers of the body.
(d) A post-mortem room, fitted with a proper table, sink and slate slab, and lavatory
accommodation.
The different rooms are well lighted and ventilated ; the walls are covered with tiles, and the
floors are of impervious material.
St. George-in-the-East..—A mortuary has been provided in the churchyard of St. George-in-theEast.
The building is approached through the public recreation ground, and contains three rooms,
viz., two mortuary chambers and a post-mortem room. There is no viewing window. The mortuary
chamber reserved for bodies of persons dying from infectious complaints has the walls covered with
glazed bricks.
The caretaker of the public recreation ground acts as mortuary keeper.
Limehouse.—A well-arranged mortuary has been erected in connection with a group of premises,
comprising the coroner's court, temporary shelter and disinfecting station. The mortuary is situated at
the rear of the coroner's court, which has a frontage on to Horseferry-branch-road. It consists of two
separate buildings having separate approaches. One of these buildings contains (a) a mortuary chamber
fitted up with catacombs for the bodies of persons awaiting interment or a coroner's inquest; (b) a postmortem
room, which can be entered from the above as well as from the yard. It is suitably fitted up
and has a small microscope room adjoining, also lavatory accommodation.
The second building contains a mortuary chamber for bodies of persons dying from infectious
complaints.
Each mortuary chamber is provided with a viewing window. The floors are of impervious
material, the inside of the walls are lined with glazed brickwork, and the means of light and ventilation
are good.
Mile-end Old-town.—Mortuary provision has been made at the rear of the vestry hall. The
building contains three rooms approached from a common lobby which is connected by a covered way
with the vestry hall in which inquests are held. One room is used as a mortuary chamber for the
bodies of persons dying from infectious complaints, a second for bodies awaiting interment or a
coroner's inquest. This room is provided with a viewing window, and communicates by a doorway
with the third room, which is suitably fitted up as a post-mortem with table, sink and means of
obtaining hot water. There is a small room in connection with the post-mortem room for use as a
microscope room. In it is a washing stand. Post-mortem instruments are provided. Each room has
flooring of impervious material and the walls are lined with tiles. Adequate provision is made for
light and ventilation.
Poplar.—The district board have obtained a site, and plans have been decided upon for the erection
of a mortuary in connection with a coroner's court. At the present time the mortuary accommodation
provided by the sanitary authority is quite unsuitable, consisting merely of a building with a single
room, with no fittings. There are, however, three parish mortuaries in the district.
St. Saviour, Southward.—The existing accommodation is unsuitable, and a scheme has been
decided on for providing a mortuary and coroner's court, together with a disinfecting station and shelter