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
City of London 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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76
CITY MORTUARY.
Bodies Received.—Post-Mortems and Inquests:—
Bodies received at the Mortuary to await burial 114
Post-Mortem examinations made 77
Inquests held on bodies 71
Inquests held on fires 2
The following tabulation shows the work carried out at the Mortuary and Coroner's Court during the past five years:—
| Year. | Articles disinfected. | Bodies received at the Mortuary. | Inquests held on bodies. | PostMortem Examinations. | Inquests held on Fires. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 180,530 | 159 | 147 | 93 | 2 |
| 1929 | 515,375 | 176 | 165 | 90 | 2 |
| 1930 | 203,909 | 145 | 135 | 73 | 1 |
| 1931 | 155,324 | 133 | 127 | 77 | 1 |
| 1932 | 234,170 | 142 | 90 | 91 | 2 |
| Average for previous 5 years | 257,861 | 151 | 133 | 85 | 2 |
| 1933 | 233,821 | 114 | 71 | 77 | 2 |
Disinfection.—Trade.—In accordance with the requirements of the South African
Government, the disinfection of second-hand clothing, prior to export to that country, has
been carried on as usual.
The following table gives the details of the work of disinfection carried out at the Disinfecting Station during the year in connection with the export trade:—
| Number of Certificates issued. | Number of articles disinfected. | Fees received by the Corporation. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 447 | 229,210 | £359 1s. | |
| Other disinfection and cleansing work carried out during the year is as follows:— | |||
| Articles disinfected after cases of infectious disease | 4,566 | ||
| Library Books disinfected | 45 | ||
| Public Vehicles—Electric Ambulance and Police Litters | 4 | ||
| Cells at Police Stations | 4 | ||
| Premises disinfected (including offices) | 98 | ||
| Lockers disinfected at request of General Post Office Authorities | 100 | ||
| Horsehair (cases) | 26 | ||
| Number of verminous persons bathed | 100 | ||
| Total number of children cleansed | 1,067 | ||
| 10 articles of clothing were destroyed at request of owners. | |||
Preservation of Bodies of Unknown Dead.-—The De Rechter apparatus for the preservation
of the dead, installed at the City Mortuary, in March, 1909, was fully described in the
Annual Report of that year. It has proved of considerable assistance in connection with
the identification of persons found drowned in the River Thames. During 1933 one body
was placed in the apparatus.
Mortuary Chapel.—I have felt for some time that the equipment of the chapel which
is provided at the City Mortuary, for the reception of citizens dying in the City, whose
homes are not altogether suitable for the retention of the bodies whilst waiting for burial,
has left something to be desired. The Corporation have now equipped this building with
an altar and the customary altar ornaments. There is already indication that greater use
will now be made of the Chapel than has been the case in the past.
DISINFECTANTS.
The disinfectants and other chemicals in use in the Public Health Department and in
other branches of the Corporation's service, have, as in the past, been supplied under a contract
prepared by your Medical Officer of Health.
They are used for deodorising and denaturising unsound meat, disinfecting public
conveniences, street gulleys, premises after infectious diseases, etc.
Special attention was given to the thoroughfares in the vicinity of the Billingsgate and
Smithfield Markets, the former of which presents certain difficulties in the matter of deodorisation
in the summer months.
Very few complaints were, however, received of offensive odours necessarily associated
with the fish trade.
In the interests of economy the practice of using a disinfectant fluid in conjunction with
general street watering has been discontinued.