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31
Suicides—
Coal gas poisoning 5
Lysol poisoning 5
Spirits of salts poisoning 1
Prussic acid poisoning 1
Drowning 2
Cut throat 4
Hanging 1
Jumping in front of railway engine 2
Public Mortuary.
In any large centre of population a public mortuary is necessary
to accommodate dead bodies removed there either
(a) Compulsorily, on the instructions of the coroner,
police, Justices or Medical Officer of Health, e.g.,
in cases of sudden death, accident, homicide, suicide,
dangerous infectious disease ; or
(b) Voluntarily, in cases where accommodation does not
exist at home for keeping dead bodies awaiting
burial.
In the relatively overcrowded state of many premises and in
view of the modern tendency towards flats and tenements as
dwelling houses, it should be realised that conditions are not always
suitable or convenient for the retention in the home of a dead
body awaiting burial.
In March, 1931, the Medical Officer of Health drew the
Authority's attention to the existing arrangements for the reception
of dead bodies before interment; the following being an extract
from the report submitted:—
Section 141 of the Public Health Act, 1875, states that—
"Any Local Authority may, or if required by the Local
Government Board must, provide a mortuary, and may make
bye-laws as to its management and the charges for its use."
In April, 1927, authority was given by this Council for
the use as a temporary mortuary of a disused coach-house at
the Council's Sewage Disposal and Destructor Works.
The approach to and situation of the premises are unfortunate,
and the arrangements for the viewing of bodies by
recently-bereaved relatives are objectionable. The mortuary
fittings and equipment are of a crude and makeshift nature ;
there is no separate room where post-mortem examinations
can be conducted with convenience, decency and cleanliness ;
and altogether the arrangements are not such as to convey the
impression of due respect for the dead.