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89
tubercular disease, 3; inanition, 3; lung diseases,3; other visceral
diseases, 3; croup and rheumatism, 1 each; natural causes, 6.
The ages at death were, under 1 year, 10 ; between 1 and 5, 2;
between 5 and 60, 7; 60 and upwards, 10. These uncertified
deaths were a fraction under 1.0 per cent. of total deaths; the proportion
of uncertified deaths in London being 1.3 per cent., and
in the rest of England and Wales, 4.6 per cent. In Wales where
the population is sparse in many parts, and medical aid too remote
to be easily obtained, the proportion was nearly 11 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 forty-eight inquests, 124 in the Town subdistrict
and 24 in Brompton, were held during the year; the
subjects being, males, 84, and females, 64; 38 were under 1 year
old, and 21 over 60: the cause of death in 98 cases was
ascertained by post-mortem examination.