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and 1,897 other articles disinfected on account of vermin. It was necessary to
destroy 1 bed, 4 bed ticks, and 14½ palliasses which were so torn and contaminated
as to render it inadvisable to return them. These were replaced with new. In 1
instance in which a quilt sustained some damage during disinfection, compensation
was paid to the owner. That was the only case in which any complaint was made
on account of measures taken for disinfection.
THE SHELTER.
The Shelter was in use on two occasions during the year: by a man on account
of vermin on February 3rd, whilst his clothing was being disinfected; and by a
family of 3 persons from October 19th to 29th, on account of disinfection for
typhus fever.
THE PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The bodies of 373 persons dying during the year were received into the Public
Mortuary, as compared with 379 in 1911, 382 in 1910, 392 in 1909, 367 in 1908,
349 in 1907, 405 in 1906, 417 in 1905 and 460 in 1904. In only one instance was
the body of a person dead of infectious disease removed to the mortuary by the
Sanitary Authority. The number of infectious bodies so removed has averaged
approximately 3 annually during the past 9 years. A specially constructed
iron shell is provided for the reception of such bodies.
The inquests numbered 294, as compared with 303 in 1911, 322 in 1910, 317
in 1909, 302 in 1908, 298 in 1907, 295 in 1906, 290 in 1905 and 336 in 1904. The
post mortem examinations at the post mortem room attached to the mortuary
numbered 218, as compared with 226 in 1911, 214 in 1910, 241 in 1909, 208 in 1908,
229 in 1907, 226 in 1906, 223 in 1905 and 251 in 1904. The figures for previous
years are contained in the report for 1903. With few exceptions, only the bodies
of persons belonging to Shoreditch are received into the mortuary. The exceptions
are in a certain number of inquest cases where persons not belonging to Shoreditch
die within the Borough.
WATER SUPPLY.
The rainfall for the year measured at Oxford amounted to 32.796 inches. Taking
the mean rainfall for 35 years, there was an excess of approximately 7 0 inches.
Most rain fell during the first quarter of the year, the rainfall for that period
amounting to 9 796 inches. The rainfall daring the months of July, August and
September was 9.136 inches, the summer being cold and wet. The rainiest month
was August when 4.866 inches fell. Least rain fell in April, the fall only amounting
to 0.020 inch. The general rainfall for the Thames Valley above Teddington
amounted to 35'65 inches, and for the Lee Valley 29.91 inches (Dr. Mill's Returns).