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
City of Westminster 1909
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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held. Post-mortem examinations were made in 160 instances at
Horseferry Road.
The number of dead bodies taken to the mortuaries for purposes of inquest and to await burial during the last nine years are:—
| Total. | For Inquest. | To await Burial. | Total. | For Inquest. | To await Burial. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 438 | 370 | 66 | 1906 | 345 | 283 | 61 |
| 1902 | 389 | 345 | 44 | 1907 | 358 | 281 | 77 |
| 1903 | 393 | 341 | 55 | 1908 | 364 | 298 | 66 |
| 1904 | 388 | 322 | 59 | 1909 | 291 | 258 | 33 |
| 1905 | 370 | 307 | 61 |
Of the 33 bodies admitted to await burial, 27 were taken toHorseferry
Road, 4 to Dufour's Place, 2 to Drury Lane, and 0 to
Ebury Bridge resting places.
The number of bodies taken in at Horseferry Road since 1897 has been:—
| Year. | Bodies. | Year. | Bodies. | Year. | Bodies. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897 | 131 | 1902 | 371 | 1907 | 341 |
| 1898 | 165 | 1903 | 371 | 1908 | 348 |
| 1899 | 273 | 1904 | 365 | 1909 | 285 |
| 1900 | 309 | 1905 | 344 | ||
| 1901 | 391 | 1906 | 332 |
Deposit of Dead Bodies on Undertakers' Premises.— The County
Council has been asked to seek powers for the prohibition of the
practice pursued by some undertakers of taking into their premises
bodies pending burial. The Council have instituted inquiries
throughout London in order to ascertain to what extent tbe practice
prevails. Each of the undertaker's premises in "Westminster was
inspected, and with two exceptions they appeared to be satisfactory for
the purpose. In most instances it is only occasionally that undertakers
are asked to take bodies to their premises, but in 3 instances the
numbers averaged 75, 30 and 20 in the year.
The Public Health Committee considered the matter, and expressed
the opinion that it is probably a convenience in a number of cases that
undertakers should temporarily give accommodation of this kind, but
they consider:—
(1) That no undertaker should be allowed to do so unless he
has a suitable place in which the bodies can remain;