London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Battersea 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]

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Table II

Cause of Accident19561957195819591960
Fall:
On stairs40374136}39
From ladder76446
From chair66776
Outside (i.e., windows, balconies, roofs, etc.)116596
In garden151081010
In bath111
From one level to another (i.e., tables, boxes, beds, etc.)1414111210
On same level (i.e., in room, over objects)2619353132
Unspecified74808572101
Hit by Object155566
Cooking stove (saucepans, water, fats, etc.)52444
Teapot 11222
Other boiling water68454
Electric shock1111
Poisoning (including foreign objects)9128814
Gassing33463
Knife-like wounds (including spikes and cuts from glass)231712714
Fires83843
Windows (trapping)22212
Suffocation1111
Not specified418151311
Total270251262240276 25-8
Rate per 10,000 population22.921.323.722.1

Burial of Deceased Persons.
Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the Council
are responsible for the burial or cremation of the body of any Person
dying, or being found dead, in the Borough, and have power to recover
from the estate of the deceased person, or from any person who, under
the Act, was liable to maintain the deceased immediately prior to his
death, their expenses incurred in carrying out the duty, in so far as
these expenses are not covered by any grant made under the National
Insurance Act, 1946.
During the year, 7 cases were dealt with. The burials arranged by the Council are carried out by a local
undertaker under contract, and not more than one coach is provided
for followers. The Health Department make the arrangements and
collect all available information regarding any estate left by the deceased
particulars of his National Insurance, and the existence of any "liable"
relatives. This information is passed to the Borough Treasurer so that
he may take steps to recover the cost.
The total cost incurred in dealing with the 7 cases was £9
approximately, and of this amount £79 was recovered.