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venient, and much appreciated by medical practitioners. This
"place" is designed " for the reception of dead bodies for and
during the time required to conduct any post mortem examination
ordered by the Coroner;" who " may order the removal of the body
for carrying out such post mortem examination, and the re-removal
of such body ; the costs of such removal and re-removal to be paid in
the same manner and out of the same fund as the costs and fees
for post mortem examination when ordered by the Coroner."
(Sanitary Act, 1866, sec. 28.) The Coroner now frequently
orders the removal of bodies, but at your Vestry's charge.
The increasing demands made upon the Mortuary amply justify
the expense incurred in its erection. As time passes the institution
will be more and more appreciated and greater use made of
it; especially if medical men and clergymen should see fit to
inculcate the propriety of the removal of the dead, in suitable
cases. Medical men can by certificate secure the removal of an
infectious body, or of a body in an offensive condition from
decomposition, on the Order of a Justice, under Section 27 of the
Sanitary Act, 1866.
The Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working
Classes recommend provision of additional mortuaries. What is
more required, at present, is power to compel removal of the dead
to existing mortuaries, when necessary. The Commissioners
recognize this fact by the further recommendation that '' in
the event of a death from infectious disease the body should forthwith
be removed to a mortuary in cases where it would otherwise
be retained in a room used as a dwelling by others." They
think it desirable, moreover, " that in any case where the body
lies in a room which is used by other persons, it should, in the
same manner, be removed" (Report, p. 31).
Inquiry having been made as to the proportion of bodies
admitted at the Mortuary on the request of friends, to those
brought in by the police, or removed on the order of the Coroner,
the subjoined statement was prepared in October with regard to
100 bodies consecutively deposited.