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46
With respect to Gwynne Road and the abutting
streets, cases of Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, &c., were frequently
occurring. An investigation took place, and the
sewers were found to be unventilated; the stump-ends
have been opened up in the usual way; and Gwynne
Road itself has been made up under the orders of the
Board. I trust the means taken will be efficient in checking
the diseases which have hitherto visited this neighbourhood
; at the same time it must be understood if the
people themselves neglect those precautions so necessary
to health, the utmost a Sanitary Board can do must in a
measure fail.
The Mortuary is now complete, and open for the reception
of bodies; it is situate at the rear of St. Mary's
Church, in the churchyard, and consists of two rooms,
one fitted up with four slate slabs, set on brick piers, and
the other is used for the purposes of post-mortem examinations;
it is light, well ventilated, and furnished with
gas and water; the floor is of concrete. This building will
prove of inestimable benefit to the public generally, and,
being near the river, we shall be relieved of those sensational
scenes which so often used to occur. The postmortem
room is accessible to all the medical gentlemen in
the parish, for the purpose of making those examinations
which are often attended with much inconvenience to
themselves and distress to the persons in whose houses
they are generally made. I could wish it was complete
with disinfecting chamber and inquest room.
It also contains a shell made of galvanized iron, of
sufficient size to admit of the largest coffin, the lid fits
into a groove which contains water so as to prevent the
escape of any gases, in the centre of the lid is a sheet of
glass through which Jurymen may view the body on which
any inquiry is being held.
It is made after the model so kindly placed before
the Local Committee by Mr. Tully.