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72
Exhumations. During the year eight exhumations under
Home Office licences were made in local graveyards. Where
such a licence is granted the Medical Officer of Health is
notified by the Home Office in order that the necessary action
in the interest of the public health may be taken. At each
exhumation a Sanitary Inspector was present.
Plumstead Churchyard. This churchyard consists of two
portions—an old portion around the church and which has
been closed for many years, and a newer portion which was
opened in 1860, and lies south of the other portion. In and
about 1890 the sanitary condition of this churchyard was a
matter which received much consideration by the Plumstead
Board of Works, and representations were made to the Home
Office with a view to closing it. In 1893 an enquiry was
conducted by a Home Office Inspector and as a result the
official Regulations in force in 1860, and modified in 1891,
were again modified to read as follows :—
(1)" The Burial Ground shall be effectively fenced, and,
if necessary, under-drained to such a depth as will
prevent water remaining in any grave or vault.
(2) The area to be used for graves shall be divided in
grave spaces, to be designated by convenient marks,
so that the position of each may be readily determined,
and a proper plan kept, upon which each
grave space shall be shown.
(3) No new vault or earthen grave shall be dug within
two feet of any other grave.
(4) A register of graves shall be kept, in which the name,
age, and date of burial in each shall be duly registered.
(5) No body shall be buried in any vault or walled grave
unless the coffin be separately entombed in an