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137
The following are the details of work done during 1914 at the
two mortuaries and coroners' courts:—
(a) Total number of bodies received, 435—300 at High
Street and 135 at Wanless Road.
(b) Post-mortem examinations conducted 206—136 at High
Street and 70 at Wanless Road.
(c) Coroners' court sat 173 times—128 at High Stree
and 45 at Wanless Road.
(d) Number of bodies brought in by the Police, 43—34
High Street and 9 to Wanless Road.
(e) Number of bodies brought in by undertakers or priva
persons 392 — 266 to High Street and 126 to Wanles
Road.
(f) No infectious bodies received either at High Street
at Wanless Road.
There were 44 suicides investigated (17 drowning, 1 poisonint
by veronal, 2 poisoning by opium, 8 poisoning by coal gas
1 hanging, 6 throat cutting, 3 shooting, 1 bayonet wound
3 throwing themselves from windows, and 2 throwing themselves
on railway tracks); and 129 accidental deaths—falls 40, crushing
1, overlying 9, burns and scalds 19, drowning 3, knocked down
or run over 47 (viz.: by Horse Vehicles 7, Motor Cars 35, Tram
Cars 3, Railways 2), Tetanus 5, Scaffold falling 3, Street Accidents 2.
Of the total 435 bodies received, 257 were males and 178
females. The yearly averages for the two decennia 1891-1900
(Parish) and 1901-10 (Borough) are respectively (a) bodies received
355.8 and 399.8, (b) post-mortems conducted 210.8 and 218.4,
(c) sittings of coroners' court 194.0 and 175.7.
A separate mortuary for Norwood District has not yet been
provided, but it has been provisionally arranged for such a mortuary
on the plan in connection with a small part of the freehold site
(south-eastern corner) in Rommany Road, West Norwood, which
was purchased and is being developed by the Council for a Depot
in that District.
The old Watch House (the residence of the High Street
Mortuary Keeper) was condemned during 1912 as unfit for human
habitation on the ground of its dampness due to its unfavourable
site and the absence of damp courses and concrete, etc., and was
closed accordingly. A temporary residence was provided for the
High Street Mortuary Keeper at 206 Lambeth Road.