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Removal to Institutions of Aged, Infirm or Physically
Incapacitated Persons
During the year 29 complaints were received alleging that
aged or infirm persons were living in insanitary conditions.
These complaints were investigated, and it is satisfactory to
record that in no case was it necessary to take steps to secure the
compulsory removal of the person to an Institution.
Public Mortuary.
The Council's mortuary adjoins the Coroner's Court at St.
George's Road, Peckham, and is equipped with a preservation
chamber containing nine compartments.
This cooling plant enables bodies received in varying stages of
decomposition to be kept for an indefinite period without further
physical changes taking place.
A monthly summary of the bodies received at the Mortuary
during 1936 appears on the following page.
Cremation.
In my report last year I drew attention to the advantages of
the disposal of the dead by cremation, and expressed the view
that on health grounds cremation has everything to commend it
when compared with earth burial.
At the December meeting of the Council plans were approved
of a proposed Crematorium and Garden of Remembrance in the
Council's New Cemetery at Honor Oak, and application has been
made to the Minister of Health for his approval of the proposals.
The type of furnace to be installed at the Crematorium has
received careful consideration, and in the opinion of the Council
the clean radiant heat of an electric furnace has distinct advantages
over any form of fuel-fired furnaces, both from the aesthetic point
of view and the probable low maintenance charges.
Exhumations.
During the year two bodies were exhumed at the Cemeteries
in the Borough for burial elsewhere on the authority of the
Secretary of the Home Office. A Sanitary Inspector was present
at these exhumations to ensure that the terms of the Home Office
license were complied with in each case.
Factories and Workshops
During the year the Inspectors paid 790 visits to factories
and 963 visits to workshops and workplaces.
The following tables show the various trades and occupations
carried on in factories, workshops and workplaces where men and
women are employed.