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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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69
The number of dead bodies taken to the mortuary for purposes of
inquest, and to await burial, during the last 28 years is set out as
follows:—
| Year | Total. | For Inquest. | To await Burial. | Year. | Total. | For Inquest. | To await Burial. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
It may be of interest to note that of the 331 bodies brought to the
mortuary, 9 were cases of drowning, 9 of street accidents, 73 of other
accidents, 3 of murder, 63 of suicide, 167 of sudden death, natural causes
and misadventure, and 7 other causes.
There is a resting place for the dead at Drury Lane.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water.—With the exception of those premises which are supplied
with water from deep wells, the whole of Westminster takes its supply
of water from the Metropolitan Water Board.
A deep well is being sunk in connection with a large building now in
course of erection on the site of the old London County Council Education
Offices on Victoria Embankment.
At Shell Mex House, built on the site of the Hotel Cecil, the deep well
which supplied part of the needs of the hotel has been filled in.
Public Swimming Baths, Washhouses, &c.—Besides those at Buckingham
Palace Road and Great Smith Street, there are the newlyconstructed
baths at Marshall Street, which were opened in April, 1931.
The system for purifying the water is the Kennicott, embodying the