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
Battersea 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Coroner's Court and Mortuary. Details as to the number of inquests held at the Coroner's Court, and bodies received into the Mortuary during 1949 are set out in the following table:— Battersea Mortuary, 1949.
| Details of Bodies received | Usual place of residence | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battersea | Wandsworth | Elsewhere | Residence unknown | ||
| Post-mortem only | 118 | 233 | 88 | 4 | 443 |
| Post-mortem and inquest | 41 | 125 | 108 | 8 | 282 |
| Total post-mortems | 159 | 358 | 196 | 12 | 725 |
| Inquest only | - | 1 | 3 | - | 4 |
| Total inquests | 41 | 126 | 111 | 8 | 286 |
| Sanitary and other reasons | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total bodies received | 159 | 359 | 200 | 12 | 730 |
| VERDICTS AT INQUESTS HELD | |||||
| Natural causes | 7 | 22 | 59 | 3 | 91 |
| Accident and misadventure | 24 | 71 | 44 | 4 | 143 |
| Open verdict | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| Suicide | 10 | 29 | 3 | — | 42 |
| Homicide | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alcoholism | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total | 41 | 126 | 111 | 8 | 286 |
The Wandsworth Borough Council again made a grant of £250
towards the cost of maintaining the Mortuary.
During the year, improved lighting in the form of fluorescent
lamps was provided in the Post-Mortem Room.