London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Kensington 1899

Annual report on the health, sanitary condition, &c., &c., of the Parish of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington for the year, 1899

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

191
THE PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The mortuary underwent considerable improvement
during the year, by provision to enable jurymen to view
bodies without entering the chamber, by means of glass panels
in the entrance doors; and also by the establishment of a direct
communication between the chamber and the post-mortem
room. Works of general repair, cleansing, painting, &c., were
also carried out.

Table: Bodies were deposited during the year to the number of 342, upon application as follows:-

Bodies were deposited during the year to the number of 342, upon application as follows:-

1. At the request of the relatives of the deceased4
2. At the request of undertakers69
3. At the request of the coroner (inquest cases)
Cases of sudden death151
Cases of violent death94
245
4. Brought in by the policeFound dead12
Accident cases2
14
5. On account of death due to infectious disease10
342

Text

Copy text to clipboard

In 129 of the above cases post-mortem examinations were
made, mainly under the coroner's warrant.
CORONER'S COURT.
The coroner's court in the Town Hall Extension Building
was completed and brought into use during the year. It
affords necessary accommodation for all parties concerned in
the holding of inquests. For the use of the court the County
Council pay an agreed rent under an arrangement authorised
by section 92 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,