London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hampstead 1903
Report for the year 1903 of the Medical Officer of Health
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105
In Appendix II. will be found the report of the Joint Sub-Committee,
which was submitted to the Public Health and Works Committees,
and approved and adopted by them. The recommendations contained in
the report were adopted by the Council on 17th March, 1904.
During the year under review, 42 complaints were received of
smells from sewer ventilators.
Public Mortuary.
During the year the bodies of 74 persons were brought to the
Mortuary as against G4 last year—40 by order of the Coroner, 22 by
the Police, and 12 at the request of friends of the deceased persons.
In 63 instances, or 85 per cent, of the bodies admitted, inquests
were held, and in 37 instances, or 50 per cent., post-mortem examinations
were made.
The following table indicates the causes of death of the persons whose bodies were received into the Mortuary:—
| Cause of Death. | Number of Bodies received. |
|---|---|
| Deaths from natural causes | 40 |
| Accidental deaths | 11 |
| Suicide | 20 |
| Neglect at birth | 3 |
| Total | 74 |
It will be noted that in no instance was the body of a person who
had died from an infectious disease brought to the Mortuary.