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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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52
London County Council, for the use of the Station for the treatment
of a small number of children suffering from minor ailments, without
charge. The number of children requiring such treatment has, however,
increased over the last year or so to such an extent that the accommodation
at the Station became inadequate. The London County
Council therefore decided to make other arrangements, and the use of
the Station for the purpose ceased on the 9th September, 1953.
| Details of Bodies received | Usual place of residence | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battersea | Wandsworth | Elsewhere | Residence unknown | |||
| Post-mortem only | 170 | 333 | 114 | 17 | 634 | |
| Post-mortem and inquest | 35 | 82 | 48 | 172 | ||
| 205 | 415 | 162 | 24 | 806 | ||
| Inquest only | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |
| 35 | 82 | 49 | 7 | 173 | ||
| Sanitary and other reasons | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | |
| Total bodies received | 206 | 415 | 163 | 25 | 809 | |
| VERDICTS AT INQUESTS HELD | ||||||
| Natural causes | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 9 | |
| Accident and misadventure | 15 | 51 | 31 | 1 | 98 | |
| Open verdict | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | |
| Suicide | 12 | 27 | 11 | 2 | 52 | |
| Homicide | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Self-Neglect | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | |
| Total | 35 | 82 | 49 | 7 | 173 | |
In addition to the above, eight inquests were held on non-residents,
and in each case the body was absent, not having been brought into
the Mortuary.
The Wandsworth Borough Council again made a grant of £250
towards the cost of maintaining the Mortuary.
The London County Council pay a rent of £450 for the use
the Coroner's Court.