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9
Twenty-four of these Deaths were Registered in the London
Hospital. I have classified the Cause of the Deaths as follows:—
Accidents—Run over, Fractures, &c.19
Burns and Scalds 10
Accidental suffocation in bed 8
,, ,, by food, drowning, &c. 9
Suicide 5
Other Causes—Poison, Peritonitis, &c. 7
392 Inquests were held in the District during the year, of which
158 referred to Non-Residents, and 234 to District Residents.
Nearly all the former took place at the London Hospital.
Through the death of Dr. Macdonald, the London County Council
were enabled to place the entire District of Whitechapel under the
jurisdiction of one Coroner, so that during the year no difficulty has
been reported in the working of the Mortuary arrangements. The
Mortuary has received 182 bodies during the twelve months:
Inquests were held upon all but 8. The Fees received by arrangement
with the Coroner, for the use of the Coroner's Court amounted
to £31 17s. Od.
During the two years and nine months the Mortuary has been
open, a total of 434 bodies were received into its chambers, and a
total of £78 4s. Od. has been paid bv the Coroner in Fees.
Water Supply
in the
Whitechapel
District.
In my last Report, I alluded to the action of the East London
Water Company in limiting its supply of water,
and I mentioned that a prosecution which was
instituted against the Company for a breach of
covenants, resulted in a verdict for the Water
Company. Curiously enough the result of the
drought of 1893 was to permit the Company to
give constant supply to its customers during nearly all the summer of
1894, and then in the Autumn to compel it to resort to the intermittent
system of supply. When it is understood that cisterns are
not generally to be found in houses in the District, it will be
apparent that great inconvenience frequently resulted from this
arrangement. That some better and more certain system of water
supply is necessary cannot be doubted. That one of the necessities
of life should be in the hands of a trading company, who may limit its
supply in the manner I have discussed, possesses risks which at least
demand considerable attention.
Registered Common Lodging-Houses are now under the control of
the London County Council, instead of as formerly being under Police
Supervision. These houses are fewer in number, being 86 now, as
compared with 98 in the last year. I append a list as usual, showing
the number of deaths among the inhabitants of these houses where