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31
This year I am glad to note a substantial decrease.
The following cases, all pedestrians, occurred during
1934 :
M 34 Run over by motor bus.
M 39 Knocked down by motor bus.
M 42 Knocked down by motor car.
M 44 Knocked down by private car.
F 64 Knocked down by lorry.
M 66 Knocked down by pedal cycle.
F 71 Knocked down by motor lorry.
F 74 Knocked down by motor car.
While this is less than half the number in preceding
years, it is 8 deaths too many and indicates that still
further measures require to be taken to make the
roads safe, particularly for pedestrians.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
(Church Row, Bethnal Green, E.2.)
During the year 8 bodies were received at the
Mortuary, practically all cases of infectious disease,
at the request of relatives.
The limited use of the mortuary is due to the fact
that the District Coroner now conducts the inquests in
Bethnal Green cases at Courts in adjoining boroughs
and the bodies in such cases are of course deposited
in the mortuaries attached to these Courts.
THE CREMATION OF THE DEAD.
I desire to draw attention to the desirability of a
more enlightened view with regard to the manner of
disposal of the dead. Although burial in the earth is
the time honoured method adopted in this country,
more hygienic methods have been used elsewhere, and
there is no reason why tradition should prevent their
adoption here. With the large aggregation of population
in and around London, it becomes urgently necessary
that proper consideration should be given to this
matter. Equipment for the efficient and dignified
destruction of dead bodies by fire now exists in various
parts of the London area, and it is to be hoped that this
process will soon become generally accepted.