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DECEASED PERSONS.
Inquests. Inquests were held on 62 residents of the Borough, the
verdicts being 20 deaths due to road accidents; 20 other accidents;
16 suicides; 3 homicides; 1 misadventure, and 2 open verdicts.
Burials. Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, places
a duty on the Council to arrange for the burial of any persons found
dead within the Borough where no private arrangements have been made.
Nine such burials took place during the year (6 adults, 1 child
under one month, and 2 still-born babies), at a cost of £72, of which
sum £33 was recovered by the end of the year from the estates of the
deceased persons or from liable relatives or by way of grants made under
the National Insurance Act, 1946.
All the requests for burial came from H.M. Coroner's Officer.
In 1948, the first year that this service was undertaken by the
Council, 65 burials took place.
It is often necessary where persons living alone have died in the
Borough, to dispose of the contents of their homes. This is done in
conjunction with relatives of the deceased, or with the Treasury Solicitor
where there are no known relatives, and has the effect of releasing the
accommodation for housing purposes as soon as possible.
FREE WASHING FACILITIES.
The Council provides free washing facilities in sixteen of the 22
public conveniences in the Borough, with the aim of promoting food hygiene
and cleanliness. Some 93,500 free washes were taken during the year.
HEALTH EDUCATION.
Health education is becoming an increasingly important activity of
local authorities.
Every effort is made to reach as broad a section of the public as
possible in the dissemination of publicity relating to general health
matters, whilst educational material relative to particular subjects is
distributed to selected sections of the public as applicable in each case.
The Mass X-Ray Campaign took pride of place this year among the
various publicity activities. Publicity measures used in this campaign
are described elsewhere in the Report.
The operation of the Council's first Smoke Control Order required,
and was given, intensive publicity in that area of the Borough covered
by the Order.
The Council co-operated with the London County Council in its
Annual Home Safety Week Campaign in November, with emphasis placed on
the dangers from falls and poisoning which together account for some
75 percent of all fatal home accidents. In conjunction with the Royal
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