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Altogether 31 men, women, and children had the use of the shelter during the
year. The question of obtaining a shelter better adapted for the purpose than the
present one has been under the consideration of the Public Health Committee for some
time past. The present accommodation consists of an ordinary eight-roomed house,
situate at No. 18, Branch Place. There is room for two families, but the house is not
specially adapted for the accommodation of more than one family, and there are neither
bath rooms nor other proper arrangements for persons who have been exposed to
infection. The Public Health Committee being of opinion that the present temporary
shelter is inadequate and unsuitable for the purpose, reported to the Vestry accordingly,
and on November 7th they were empowered by the Vestry to purchase a site and provide
a shelter at a cost not exceeding £1,200. The necessary steps are now being taken, and
a site has been obtained for the purpose of erecting a shelter properly adapted for the
accommodation of persons requiring its use.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The public mortuary continues to be very largely used by the people of Shoreditch ;
494 bodies were received into the mortuary, including the bodies of seven persons dead
from infectious disease, which were removed by the Sanitary Authority from houses
in which it was impossible for them to be retained without risk to the inmates.
The following table contains the number of bodies received into the mortuary
during the past five years:—

The number of inquests held was 354, as compared with 339 in 1898, 331 in 1897,
301 in 1896, and 313 in 1895. The post-mortem examinations made in the postmortem
room attached to the mortuary numbered 232, as compared with 164 in 1898,
159 in 1897, 128 in 1896, 109 in 1895, 60 in 1894, and 29 in 1893.
In the spring, a small chamber, 10 feet long by seven in width, was added to the
mortuary, at at cost of £70. It is lighted by a sky-light and a window in the east
wall, and is entered from the lobby of the mortuary. A suitable place in connection
with the mortuary for the reception of empty shells when not in use had long been
necessary, and the chamber in question has been provided to meet this requirement.