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 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Mortuaries.
The number of bodies removed to the Council's mortuaries under
order of the Coroner, or to await burial, was 348—in four instances on
account of infectious disease.
Inquests were held at the Coroner's Court, Horseferry Road, in
341 cases, and there were 34 adjourned inquests. Post-mortem
examinations were made in 195 instances. Seven bodies were received
in the mortuary chapel to await burial.
The number of dead bodies taken to the mortuaries for purposes of
inquest, and to await burial, during the last 26 years is set out as
follows:—
Table XI.
| Total. | For Inquest. | To await Burial. | Total. | For Inquest. | To await Burial. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | |||||||
There is a resting place for the dead at Drury Lane.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The problem of maternal mortality was discussed in the report for
1927, and it was then mentioned that the Ministry of Health was taking
steps to deal with the matter. The first step is naturally to measure the
extent of the problem and to make a comprehensive inquiry into causation,
prevalence and contributory factors.
With this object in view the Minister set up on the 4th June, 1928,
a committee designated the Maternal Mortality Committee. He appointed
Sir George Newman the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry to be Chairman.
The members include Medical Officers of Health, Obstetric Surgeons,
representatives of the Central Midwives Board and others. One of the