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52
portable boiler it is quite certain that bedding and mattresses
cannot be properly disinfected unless the steam be under
pressure. For some time past the Sanitary Committee have
had the matter under their consideration, and one of the great
difficulties we have to contend with is a selection of a proper
site on which to erect a new apparatus.
I trust that in the near future the difficulty will be overcome,
and that we shall have a thoroughly efficient steam apparatus.
Mortuary.
In my Annual Report last year the Mortuary was well on the
way towards completion. In April this year the building was
finished and ready for use. It is fitted with every convenience
necessary; the Post-Mortem Room is supplied with hot and
cold water, and a splendid case of instruments; there is also a
retiring room for medical men, who have expressed to me satisfaction
as to the arrangements made for their convenience. I
should like to state that the opposition to its present location
has subsided. We were told that it would be a nuisance to the
surrounding neighbourhood; a danger to the health of the
students at the People's Palace; and that it would have the
effect of deteriorating property. As a matter of fact it has done
neither one nor the other. I have not had a single complaint
from anyone. Its present central situation is a great boon to
both Coroner and jurymen, seeing that all the inquests are held
at the Vestry Hall, which it adjoins. During the last nine
months 115 bodies have been received at the Mortuary, 112
inquests have been held, and 8 post-mortems made. A
custodian is in charge night and day, and has performed his
duties satisfactorily. Regulations for the management of the
mortuary were drawn up by myself and submitted to the
Sanitary Council, and passed by the Board : a copy of these is
appended. During the year I have had a number of bodies
removed from houses where there was not sufficient and proper
accommodation for them in the interval between death and
interment. No case of infectious disease has been received at
the Mortuary up to the present, although we have a separate