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36
List of Bedding, etc., destroyed in the Incinerator from January to December,
1903: —
48 Mattresses 4 Sheets
24 Beds 9 Blankets
11 Palliasses 8 Quilts
21 Cushions 150 Sundries
19 Pillows 13 Sacks of Paper
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The Mortuary.
The number of bodies deposited in the Mortuary during the year was 710.
608 bodies were removed by the Coroner's order; 43 by the Police, 41 by the
Relieving Officers; 4 at the request of deceased's friends, and 14 by my own orders.
20 bodies were those of persons that had died from an infectious disease, and
were therefore placed in the Infectious Mortuary.
642 Inquests were held in the Coroner's Court, two being adjourned from the
London Hospital.
77 Post-mortem examinations were performed.
Army Blankets.
A large number of army blankets, which had been condemned in South Africa,
had got on to the market, and one consignment went to a very respectable firm in
the City of London. These were purchased and sent to the training ship Cornwall,
where, shortly after these coverings were brought into use, an outbreak of Enteric
Fever occurred. After investigation, the blankets were suspected to be the source
of infection. They were bacteriologically examined, and some found to be in a very
dirty condition and containing Enteric Fever bacilli. About 50,000 were delivered
to Mr. Myers, of 97, Wentworth Street, as agent for a Mr. Cohen, of Cape Town,
and were stored in Assam Street. On receipt of the above information I closed the
warehouse. The premises were fumigated, and all the blankets disinfected by steam.
Destroying them would have been more satisfactory, and I wired to the War Office,
stating the circumstances and suggesting the advisability of having the blankets
destroyed, but at their expense. The reply was so vague and unsatisfactory, that I
was unable to act on their communication,