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48
Of the accidental causes 10 were those of infants
suffocated when in bed with their parents, 1 in a tub of
water, 2 by fire, and one by drinking hot tea; 5 were
run over on the railway, and 1 by a cab.
The suicides were respectively :—
The special fact calling for notice in the above is
the number of infants suffocated in bed. Parents should
know how dangerous it is to feeble infants to sleep with
them; for even if they are not smothered, the breathing
of vitiated air which exists under the bedclothes is
highly injurious.
Besides the above cases on which inquests were
held 25 cases of sudden death, mostly the subjects of
chronic disease, were submitted to the Coroner for his
decision whether enquiries should be held or not. In
many of these cases he instructed the Medical Officer of
the district to examine the body and report to him. This
method is far more satisfactory than the old one of
registering them as not certified, as the Registrar may
see fit, and very considerably lessens the facility for
the disposal of persons which previously existed.
Deaths not Certified.—Six only were so returned,
and were of infants who evidently had very little vitality
at birth, their ages having been
2 by Poison
1 by Hanging
2 5 days
2 2 days
1 30 hours
1 11 hours
all died of Convulsions, and the mothers were attended
by midwives.