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Association expressed the view that the modern
mortuary should be so constructed as to fulfil
efficiently the following essential requirements:—
1. Preservation of bodies in such a manner as to ensure
correct identification, cold chambers for storage
being provided for this purpose.
2. Post-Mortem rooms and adequate appliances to enable
the cause of death to be ascertained.
3. The reverent display of bodies which have to be viewed
by relations and friends.
The County Council conveyed the views of the
Coroners' Association to the Metropolitan Borough
Councils on 21st May, 1932, and the matter was also
considered by the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing
Joint Committee on 25th July of that year.
The Public Health Committee appointed a SubCommittee
consisting of Councillors Mr. Barham
(Chairman), Dr. Bokenham, Mr. Dodimead and
Sir Thomas Richardson to inquire into the whole
question and to view the mortuary. I submitted
a report at their meeting on 26th November, 1932,
in which I recommended that the mortuary should
be brought up to modern standards, and gave details
of the necessary plant and a general outline of the
structural alterations required in the building. My
report was based on exhaustive inquiries on modern
installations and visits to mortuaries in which
modern plants were already installed.
The Sub-Committee of the Public Health Committee
gave the matter the most careful consideration
and the Committee unanimously resolved to
recommend the Council to allocate a sum of £550 in
the annual estimates for 1933-1934 for the purpose.
At their meeting in October, 1933, the Council
accepted tenders for the reconstruction (including
the laying of Terrazzo flooring) of the viewing room;
the installation of a cold chamber and refrigeration