London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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70
EXHUMATION AND REINTERMENT OF BODIES.
City of London Cemetery.—During the year the bodies of three persons buried at the City
of London Cemetery at Ilford have been exhumed and subsequently re-interred in the same
Cemetery. In accordance with the terms of the licences issued by the Home Secretary in
respect of these cases, the work of removal and re-interment was carried out in the early
morning under the supervision of your Medical Officer of Health.
All Hallows' Church, Barking, Great Tower Street.—In the course of the opening up of
a crypt of the Church of All Hallows', Barking, Great Tower Street, a considerable number
of lead coffins, generally in a state of collapse, were found. These were removed
to an adjoining crypt and the opening sealed with brick-work. The work was carried out
to my satisfaction and no nuisance was created during the process.
50, Bishopsgate Street.- During building operations a small quantity of human remains
were discovered in the ground below No. 50, Bishopsgate. The total quantity of bones
found was about half a bushel, and they were in all probability human remains left in the
burial ground of the adjoining Church of St. Helens, at some previous excavation. The
circumstances were reported to the Police and the Coroner, and the remains later re-interred
on the site with the observance of due decency.
CITY MORTUARY.
| Bodies received at the Mortuary to await burial | 155 |
| Post-Mortem examinations made | 64 |
| Inquests held on bodies | 139 |
| Inquests held on fires | 4 |
The following tabulation shows the work carried at the Mortuary and Coroner's Court during the past five years:—
| Year. | Articles disinfected. | Bodies received at the Mortuary. | Inquests held on bodies. | Inquests held on Fires. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 579,304 | 153 | 140 | 25 |
| 1922 | 760,860 | 135 | 114 | 15 |
| 1923 | 355,657 | 149 | 128 | l |
| 1924 | 481,391 | 160 | 145 | 0 |
| 1925 | 493,813 | 150 | 139 | 0 |
| Average for previous 5 years | 534,205 | 149 | 133 | 8 |
| 1926 | 305,970 | 155 | 139 | 4 |
'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.
The following table gives the details of the work of disinfection carried out at the Disinfection Station during the year in connection with the export trade:—
| Number of Certificates issued. | Number of articles disinfected. | Fees received by the Corporation. |
|---|---|---|
| 721 | 299.390 | £1.062 |
| Articles disinfected after cases of infectious disease | 6,580 |
| Public Vehicles—Electric Ambulance | 1 |
| Police Litter | 1 |
| Number of verminous persons bathed | 33 |
| Total number of children cleansed | 951 |
Filthy and Verminous Articles.—An addition to the powers already possessed for dealing
with verminous houses or verminous articles in houses has been made by the provisions of
the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1926, which extends the powers of sanitary
authorities in such a manner that they are now authorised to cleanse, disinfect or destroy
any verminous articles offered or exposed for sale or stored or deposited with a view to sale
in or upon any stall, space, street or place and also any covers or wrappers of any such
articles.
No action has been necessary in the City during the past year under these new
provisions.
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