View report page

37
THE PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The dead bodies received into the public mortuary, which is situate in
rear of the east end of the parish church of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, numbered
392, as compared with 367 in 1908, 349 in 1907, 405 in 1906, 417 in 1905
and 460 in 1904. The bodies of five persons dead of dangerous infectious
disease were removed to the mortuary by the Sanitary Authority as compared
with 6 in 1908, 3 in 1907, 5 in 1906, 3 in 1905 and 4 in 1904.
The inquests held numbered 317, as compared with 302 in 1908, 298 in 1907,
295 in 1906, 290 in 1905, and 336 in 1904. The post-mortem examinations
made in the post-mortem room attached to the mortuary numbered 241, as
compared with 208 in 1908, 229 in 1907, 226 in 1906, 223 in 1905, and 251 in
1904. The figures as to the use of the mortuary in years previous to 1904 are
contained in the Annual Report for 1903.
WATER SUPPLY.
The rainfall for the year measured at Oxford amounted to 27.730 inches.
Taking the mean fall for 35 years there was an excess of about 2 inches. The
wettest quarter was the third, when 8.823 inches fell. Most rain fell in June,
and least in February, the amounts being 3,990 and 0.425 inches respectively.
August, September, October, and December were all wet months. In accordance
with section 49 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, communications
were received from the Metropolitan Water Board as to water supplies being cut
off in respect to 83 premises, as compared with 65 in 1908 and 113 in 1907. Of
these 45 were on the New River and 38 on the East London district. In 20
instances the houses had been vacated, in 29 there were broken water pipes,
in 11 the water rates had not been paid, in 12 the water was cut off at the
request of occupiers, and in 11 instances no reasons were given.
No complaints were received as to the quality of the water supplied in the
Borough, and there was no reason for suspecting the occurrence of any waterborne
illness.
SANITARY WORK.
Preliminary notices as to insanitary conditions were served in respect to
2,585 premises. Of these 567 were dealt with under the supervision of
Inspector Lear, 445 under Inspector Firth, 517 under that of Inspector Jordan,
471 under Inspector Langstone, 490 under Inspector Pearson, and 95 under
Inspector Stokes. The last-named commenced work in Shoreditch on
November 1st. In connection with the work arising from the notices some