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49
Inquests.—During the year the large number of
63 inquests were held on the bodies of 38 males and
25 females, besides these 6 were submitted to the
Coroner, who did not deem an inquiry necessary. The
total number are 25 in excess of those of the previous
year. The verdicts were as follows:—
From Accidental Causes 29
From Natural Causes 21
Suicides 10
Fractured Skull 1
Found dead 1
Manslaughter 1
63
Of the accidental causes 10 were by drowning,
mostly of youths bathing in the Thames. 10 were of
infants suffocated whilst in bed with their parents, the
mother falling asleep with her infant at her breast, its
powers being too feeble to wake her or extricate itself
from its dangerous position,* 5 from burns, 1 killed on
railway, 1 choked, and 2 not specified.
The suicides were respectively:
5 Cut Throats.
2 Hanging.
1 Poison—Laudanum.
1 Drowning.
1 On Hailway.
Social Position.—-The per-centage of deaths in relation
to social position was as follows
Nobility and Gentry 1.2
Professional 0.5
Middle and Training ... ... ... ... 15.7
Labouring ... ... ... ... ... 82.6
100.0
*There was no evidence as to the mother being under the influence of drink
in any of these cases.
D