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34
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
Under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, section 88, every sanitary
authority must provide and fit up a proper place for the reception of
dead bodies before interment.
The Chelsea Mortuary is situated in Arthur Street.
During the year the drainage of the premises has been renewed and
provision made for lavatory accommodation. Improvement in the
existing lighting arrangements is under consideration.
Number of Bodies received in Mortuary during 1925 102
1. To await Inquests—
(a) Infectious—
(b) Non-infectious 86
2. To await burial 15
3. Sanitary grounds 1
Number of Post-Mortem examinations 52
Rag Flock Act. No samples of rag flock have been taken during the
year.
Offensive Trades. At the present time there are no offensive trades
in the Borough, but considerable nuisance was caused in the summer of
1924 by an offensive trade being established in Lots Road. The nature
of the business was the conversion of waste food into cattle meal. This
involved the extraction of fat, thereby bringing it, in the opinion of the
Public Health Committee, within the byelaws relating to offensive
trades. It required exceptional vigilance and numerous visits on the
part of the Sanitary Inspector in charge of the district to minimise the
nuisance which arose, and he formed the opinion that the premises were
entirely unsuitable for the purpose for which they were being used,
and also that the trade was an offensive one. After numerous interviews
and communications on the matter and visits to the premises by the
County Council's Inspector dealing with offensive trades, the Company
eventually agreed to apply to the County Council for a Licence to carry
on their business. The Borough Council, on the advice of the Public
Health Committee, decided to oppose the grant of a Licence on the
ground that the business was a nuisance and detrimental to the health
of residents in the vicinity. The County Council, after hearing the
application, and the objections, decided not to grant the Licence. The
premises in Lots Road were subsequently closed down, the business
being transferred to a district outside the area of the London County
Council.