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
Kensington 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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67
MORTUARY AND CHAPEL OF REST.
During the year 239 bodies were deposited at the Mortuary under the following circumstances:—
| 1. | At the request of the relatives of the deceased | 50 | |
| 2. | At the request of undertakers, mainly at the instance of the relieving officers | 15 | |
| 3. | At the request of the coroner (inquest cases):- | ||
| Cases of sudden death | 82 | ||
| Cases of violent death | 69 | 151 | |
| 4. | Brought in by the Police—Persons found dead | 14 | |
| Accident cases | 9 | 23 | |
| 5. | On account of death due to infectious disease | ... | 0 |
| Total number of bodies received | ... | 239 | |
In 132 of the above cases post mortem examinations were made under the coroner's warrant.
The number of bodies deposited in 1913 and the five preceding years, together with the
number of inquests held and the number of post-mortem examinations made in the Mortuary is
si own in the following Table:—
| Year. | No. of bodies received at the Mortuary. | No. of bodies upon which Coroner's inquests were held. | No. of bodies upon which post mortem examinations were made. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 251 | 174 | 107 | ||
| 1909 | 263 | 181 | 110 | ||
| 1910 | 233 | 145 | 103 | ||
| 1911 | 261 | 177 | 118 | ||
| 1912 | 238 | 151 | 107 | ||
| 1913 | 239 | 151 | 132 | ||
Unnecessary inconvenience having been caused by numerous applications from undertakers
for the reception of bodies late at night, the period during which bodies will be received, except
in case of emergency, has been limited on the recommendation of the Cemetery and Open Spaces
Sub-Committee to the hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and undertakers have been notified to this
effect. During the year 64 bodies were deposited in the Chapel of Rest, Avondale Park. Forty
bodies were deposited in the previous year.
VACCINATION.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Hinton, the vaccination officer, I am able to publish the following
summary of the official returns respecting the vaccination of children whose births were registered
in 1912. Out of a total number of 3,116 infants born 337 were not vaccinated on account of
"conscientious objection" on the part of the parents, and 204 remained unvaccinated through
"removal to places unknown." The total number of cases not finally accounted for or not vaccinated
through "conscientious objection" on the part of the parents thus amounted to 541 or to 17 per
cent. of the births registered as compared with losses of less than 7 per cent. in each of the five
years 1904-1908. The number successfully vaccinated amounted to 2,289 or 73 per cent. of the
total births, and 207 infants died before the operation of vaccination had been performed.