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37
THE SHELTER.
The Shelter was not in use during the year under consideration.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
During 1908 the dead bodies received in the public mortuary numbered 367,
as compared with 349 in l907, 405 in 1906, 417 in 1905, and 460 in 1904. The
bodies of 6 persons dead of infectious disease were removed to the mortuary
by the sanitary authority, as compared with 3 in 1907, 5 in 1906, 3 in 1905, and
4 in 1904. The decrease in the number of bodies deposited in the mortuary
during the past two years probably resulted mainly from the absence of prolonged
hot weather during the summer months, though it is also necessary to
take into account the decrease in the total number of deaths in the Borough
during 1908.
The inquests held numbered 302, as compared with 298 in 1907, 295 in
1906, 290 in 1905, and 336 in 1904. The post-mortem examinations in the
post-mortem room at the mortuary numbered 208, as compared with 229 in
1907, 226 in 1906, 223 in 1905, and 251 in 1904. The figures as to the use of
the mortuary in years previous to 1904 are contained in the Annual Report
for 1903.
WATER SUPPLY.
The rainfall for the year, measured at Oxford, amounted to 23.725 inches.
Taking the mean rainfall for 35 years there was a deficiency of about 2 inches.
The rainiest quarter of the year was the second, when 7.470 inches fell, the
fall exceeding the average of the four quarters of the year by 1.5 inches. The
wettest month was April, when 4.309 inches fell, and the dryest February,
when the fall only amounted to 0.872 inches.
In accordance with Section 49 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
communications were received from the Metropolitan Water Board as to
water supplies being cut off in respect to 65 premises, as compared with 113 in
1907. Of these 19 were on the East London District, and 46 on that of the
New River. In a number of the intimations the premises referred to had
been vacated, in 19 water pipes were broken and leaky, in 6 instances there
was waste, and in 6 instances the water was cut off on account of non-payment
of the water rate.
No complaints were received as to the quality of the water supplied in
the Borough, either on the East London or on the New River District, and
there was no reason for suspecting the occurrence of any water-borne disease.
SANITARY WORK.
Preliminary notices as to insanitary conditions were served in respect
to 3,026 premises, of which 264 were dealt with under the supervision of the
Chief Inspector, 534 under that of Inspector Lear, 569 under Inspector Firth,
594 Inspector Jordan, 492 Inspector Langstone, and 573 under the supe vision