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17
Of 297 persons belonging to Shoreditch dying in public institutions
beyond the limits of the Borough, 115 died in general hospitals, 26 in
asylums, 43 in fever hospitals, 26 in hospitals for special diseases, and 87 in
other institutions. Elsewhere than in public institutions, 16 persons belonging
to Shoreditch died beyond the limits of the Borough.
Altogether 830 or 68.5 per cent of the people belonging to Shoreditch
who died during the year died in public institutions. The corresponding
figures for recent years have been as follows:—
1929 63.9 per cent 1931 66.3 percent
1930 67.5 ,, 1932 69.3 ,,
PUBLIC MORTUARY, 1933.
Number of bodies deposited from—
St. Leonard's Hospital 34
L.C.C. Infectious Disease Hospitals 4
LTndertakers 207
Other sources 98
Total number of bodies deposited 343
Number of post-mortem examinations performed 130
The Shoreditch mortuary is an old building, the structure of which is
exposed to danger from subsidence by reason of the fact that the site is honeycombed
with old graves. Further, the accommodation that the mortuary
affords for post-mortem examinations and general arrangements regarding
dead bodies does not in all respects conform to modern standards regarding
such matters.
In May, 1933, it was understood that the London County Council were
interesting themselves in the condition of the mortuaries attached to the
Coroners' Courts in London, and a request was made for a report upon the
Shoreditch mortuary. This was submitted, and at the end of the year the
question of the extent of the work to be undertaken by the Borough Council
stood deferred until the policy of the London County Council regarding the
future of this mortuary should have been made known.