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72
CITY MORTUARY.
Bodies Received—Post-Mortems and Inquests:—
Bodies received at the Mortuary to await burial l50
Post-Mortem examinations made 60
Inquests held on bodies 139
Inquests held on fires 1

Disinfection—Trade.—In accordance with the requirements of the South African
Government, the disinfection of second-hand clothing, prior to export to that country, has
been carried on as usual.

Disinfection—Infectious Diseases:—
Articles disinfected after cases of infectious disease 4,730
Public Vehicles—Electric Ambulance 2
Police Litter 1
Taxi Cab 1
Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897:—
Number of verminous persons bathed 12
Cleansing of School Children:—
Total number of children cleansed 927
Disinfection of Clothing of Post Office Staff suffering from Infectious Diseases.—It is the
customary practice, in the City, to disinfect free of charge, articles of clothing temporarily
left in offices, etc., by persons who are, for the time being, absent due to having contracted
any infectious disease.
This practice has not, in the past, been applied to clothing left in Post Office buildings
by members of the Government service, such work having been carried out by private
arrangement.
A request has now been received that the Corporation will in future undertake the work
on behalf of the Government. In view of the fact that a contribution is made by the Crown
towards the rates in respect of Crown property in the City, the facilities have been made
accessible to the Crown in the same way as they are to other ratepayers.
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 of that year. It has proved of considerable assistance in connection with the
identification of persons found drowned in the River Thames. During the year, three bodies
were placed in the apparatus and of these two were subsequently identified.
Fire Inquests.—Dr. W. J. Waldo, J.P., Coroner for the City of London informs me that
he has investigated personally, during the year 1925, under the City of London Fire Inquests
Act, 1888, 186 City Fires, of which number he has satisfied himself as regards the origin
and cause of the fire in 184 cases, without holding a public inquest with a jury.
In the remaining two cases, a public inquest with a jury, has been held before him concerning
(1) the death of a Fireman, and (2) the origin and cause, and all the circumstances
(including construction of fire exits) of the fire at which the deceased fireman was killed
whilst on duty in putting out the fire. The two inquests are as follows:—
(1) Inquest held on September 21st, 1925, at the City Coroner's Court, concerning
the death of Valentine George Sinden, aged 37, a sub-officer of the London
Fire Brigade, whose sudden death by means of electrocution was due to defective
electrical lighting installation at Byron House, Nos. 2 and 4, Finsbury Street, E.C.,
and to failure of cutting off the electric current at the meter at the fire at which
deceased was at work at the time of his death. No Fire Card or Poster of the