London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1921

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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61
CITY MORTUARY
DISINFECTION—TRADE—In accordance with the requirements of the
South African Authorities the disinfection of secondhand clothing prior to export
to that country has been carried out as usual

The following table gives the details of this work:—

Number of Certificates issuedNumber of articles disinfectedFees received by the Corporation
479561975£1123
DISINFECTION—INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Articles disinfected after cases of infectious disease17329
BODIES RECEIVED POSTMORTEMS AND INQUESTS:-
Bodies received at the Mortuary to await burial153
Postmortem examinations made71
Inquests held on bodies140
Inquests held on fires25
CLEANSING OF PERSONS ACT 1897:—
Number of verminous persons bathed22

NUMBER OF ARTICLES DISINFECTED BODIES RECEIVED AT THE MORTUARY AND INQUESTS HELD AT THE CORONER'S COURT IN THE CITY DURING 1921 COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS

YearArticles disinfectedBodies received at the MortuaryInquests held on bodiesInquests held on Fires
19164384261691512
19172951442342131
19181799901581300
19192079351701504
19205498291721589
Average for previous 5 years3342651811603
192157930415314025

DISINFECTION OF CLOTHING OF EMIGRANTS TO THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA—The United States of America in order to prevent so
far as was possible the introduction of infectious diseases into that country
through the medium of emigrants have issued regulations requiring disinfection
of the personal effects of all thirdclass passengers entering the United States
ports A further requirement was the production of a certificate by a responsible
authority vouching that such disinfection had been efficiently conducted
As a result the Corporation were requested by the agents of two large shipping
firms to effect the necessary work of disinfection The request was complied with
and the usual charge for disinfection of £1 for each time the apparatus was used
plus one half the overtime charges incurred resulted in the sum of £341 3s 3d
being paid into the Chamber of London
In all the personal effects of 3610 emigrants have been dealt with
PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF UNKNOWN DEAD—The De Rechter
apparatus for the preservation of the dead installed at the City Mortuary in March
1909 was fully described in the Annual Report for that year It has proved of
considerable assistance in connection with the identification of persons found
drowned in the river Thames
FIRE INQUESTS—Dr F JWaldo JP Coroner for London and Southwark
has kindly furnished me with the following list of places in the City which were
the subject of Fire Inauests held bv him during 1921 :—
INQUESTS HELD UNDER THE CITY OF LONDON FIRE INQUESTS ACT 1888
Date of Inquest Premises burnt
17th December 1920 and 4th January 1921 4 Jewin Crescent EC
6th 12th and 17th January 1921 11 12 and 13 Arthur Street EC
26th January 1921 6 and 7 Redcross Street EC
2nd and 10th February 1921 15 Aldersgate Street EC
2nd and 10th February 1921 15 Aldersgate Street EC
28th January 3rd 8th and 15th February1921 18 Old Swan Lane EC
3rd March 1921 2 Whitefriars Street EC