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29
[1928
DEATHS FROM COAL-GAS POISONING.
During the year 19 deaths were registered from asphyxia caused by the
inhalation of carbon-monoxide gas. Eighteen deaths from the same cause
occurred in 1927.
Seventeen of these deaths were attributable to suicide, while the cause of the
remaining 2 deaths was accidental, both of which were investigated at the request
of the Ministry of Health.
Of the 19 deaths, 12 were males and 7 females, the ages ranging from 15 to
75 years.
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS.
The deaths due to accident numbered 156. Of this number 56 deaths were
ascribed to vehicular traffic and 55 to accidental falls, including 34 aged people.
The 56 deaths due to accidents in vehicular traffic may be summarised as
follow:—
Motor Car
or Lorry. Bus or Tram. Taxi-cab. OtherVehicles. Total.
33 14 3 6 66
Of this number, 15 deaths occurred to Islington residents when in outlying
districts.
In addition to these, 14 non-residents were also killed by vehicles within the
borough.
RETENTION OF DEAD BODIES (BODIES OF PERSONS DYING OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN HOSPITAL).
Hearses Used for Conveying Bodies of Persons Dying from Dangerous
Infectious Diseases.
Owing to the admission of children suffering from Measles and Bronchopneumonia,
Whooping Cough and other non-notifiable infectious diseases into the
infectious disease hospitals, it has become increasingly necessary to see that the
provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, are consistently complied withAs
is well known, in the present housing shortage it is difficult to reserve a room for
the reception of the body when it is brought to the home from hospital. The Metropolitan
Asylums Board do not now permit the removal of the body to the house
until permission has been received from the Public Health Department, and the
Medical Officer of Health causes a special enquiry to be made as regards the accommodation,
and in many cases has been able to persuade the parents to take advantage
of the facilities provided at the Public Mortuary provided for this purpose at the
Islington Coroner's Court.
The provisions of the law are contained in sections 72 and 73 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891. Section 74 of this Act deals with the use of or hire of a public
conveyance other than a hearse for conveying the body of a person who has died
of any dangerous infectious disease, and in contrast to the spirit of this provision
it is disconcerting that there is now on the market, advertised, and in considerable
use, a conveyance known as a "Double Purpose" hearse. This is used either as a
hearse or at other times as a hired conveyance. Should the body conveyed in this
be that of a person who has died of a dangerous infectious disease, and without
disinfection and proper precautions the same vehicle is used for another purpose,
besides the possibility of the conveyance of infection, it would appear that it is an
ingenious way of getting over the provisions of the section, the vehicle being a hearse