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33
MORTUARY.
The subject of providing a Mortuary of our own has been a
contentious one for many years. I have drawn up a number of
Reports urging its necessity but the fact that one existed on the
Guardian's premises, and that this body allowed the public to use
it was sufficent to shelve the question on numerable occasions
when the matter was brought forward. The Public Health Act,
1891, explicitly states that every Sanitary Authority shall fit up
and provide a proper place for the reception of dead bodies. In
1893 I brought up a special report on the subject and showed the
urgent necessity of its provision by reason of several deaths from
infectious diseases having taken place in the hamlet, and no Mortuary
being available the bodies had to be kept at their homes. The
matter however, was allowed to drift until the County Council
made such urgent representations during this year, that the matter
was thoroughly gone into and it was decided by the Vestry to
build a Mortuary. The question of sites was a much vexed one
and finally that in the rear of the Vestry Hall was decided upon;
when this fact became known a deputation from the immediate
neighbourhood waited upon the Vestry to protest against its
location, as they were afraid that it would be prejudicial to the
health of the inhabitants, they were informed however these
fears were groundless, the Vestry therefore adhered to its
decision. In company with the Sanitary Committee I visited a
number of Mortuaries in various parts of London, and the information
acquired was most valuable, and the outcome of these
visits resulted in the Mortuary in its present form being built,
which I am glad to say it is now nearly completed. I feel sure
that it will be a great boon to the inhabitants, especially those
who have to serve as jurymen, as by the arrangements made they
will be enabled to view the bodies through a glass window, and so
will obviate the necessity for entering the chamber of death
which so many justly object to. A special room has been constructed
for the better holding of Post-mortem examinations,
a want much felt by the Medical Practitioners in the Hamlet.
Provision is also made for deaths arising from infectious disease
a separate well ventilated room being built on the latest modern
principles for the purpose.
COW-HOUSES AND SLAUGHTER-HOUSES.
It may not be known to many of the present members of the
Vestry that the County Council is the Licensing Authority for
these buildings. The owners are required to apply annually for the
licenses and also to send copies of such application to the Vestry,
which has the power to object to any of the licenses being
granted where the premises are in an insanitary condition. The
County Council Bye-laws having come into operation during this
year, the inspection of these buildings was a matter of much importance
on account of structural alterations becoming necessary
in almost all of them, in order to conform with these Bye-laws;