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thrush, and abscess, each 1. The uncertified deaths were only
0.9 of total deaths, a very small proportion. Referring to England
and Wales, the Registrar-General states that 4.7 per cent. of the
total deaths in 1879 were not certified; the proportion in London
as a whole being only 1.4 per cent.
The subject of uncertified deaths has, on more than one
occasion, been discussed by the Society of Medical Officers of
Health, and in December, 1880, the Society, on the recommendation
of the Council to which the subject had been referred for
consideration, adopted the following resolution—
"That all cases of uncertified death should be reported by the
local registrar of births and deaths to the Coroner, who
should, when there is no prima facie ground for holding
an inquest, direct such cases to be investigated by a
registered medical practitioner."
It had been suggested that the duty of making the investigation
should devolve on the Medical Officer of Health, as a part of his
ordinary work, but the Society did not adopt this view.
Of all the unsatisfactory arrangements connected with the subject
of uncertified deaths, perhaps the most unsatisfactory is the
responsibility cast on the Coroner's officer of making a preliminary
enquiry, and of being the de facto judge whether an inquest should
be held in any given doubtful case. The Society at my instance
adopted the following resolution bearing on the subject:—
"That in the opinion of this Society, the present system of
investigation of deaths referred to a Coroner, viz., by an
officer having no special qualification for the discharge
of the duty, is unsatisfactory."
INQUESTS.
One hundred and seventy-two inquests were held during the
year, 21 in Brompton and 151 in the Town Sub-district; on male
persons, 100, and females, 72; the cause of death having been
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