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110
attendance cannot be obtained. In such cases, which, I believe,
constitute a large proportion of the total number, the suggested
duty would be altogether impossible of performance. It would
take up too much space to deal exhaustively with the subject, but
I may further remark, speaking now from my experience in this
parish, that of the 12 to 20 uncertified deaths that occur
annually, nearly all are referred to the Coroner, and registration
of death takes place only after the Coroner's decision that
inquisition is not necessary. The inquiry by Coroners' officers is
not satisfactory, and in cases like many of those in which inquisition
is now held, it is probable that inquiry by an expert—e.g.,
a Medical Officer of Health—would save the time of Coroners
and jurors, and some expense to the rates—if his decision that
there was no necessity for inquest were to be accepted. In
this case the Medical Officer would practically become
"Coroner's Officer," as the St. James's Vestry propose. If
suitably remunerated for his task, he might reasonably be
authorised to inquire, in the first instance, into the cause of
uncertified deaths; and to certify in proper cases, referring
those from violence to the Coroner. Any such change would
require legislation to give it effect; but it may be doubted whether
the legislature, would entrust to any individual powers of such an
exceptional nature. In the case of deaths registered as "not
certified," after report to the Coroner, it cannot be doubted that
inquiry and report by a Medical Officer would be more satisfactory
than that by a Coroner's Officer, and could be obtained
were provision made for payment of a suitable fee. Presumably,
the deaths "not certified" in mountainous districts are
not even referred to a Coroner. In some of the manufacturing
towns there is much "medical" practice by unregistered
persons, upon whose information, probably, many deaths are
registered*; registration being required by law, which medical
certification is not—excepting in the case of patients who have
* The percentage of uncertified deaths to total deaths in 1888 was 5.6 in
Hull, 5.5 in Sheffield, 5.4 in Halifax, and 5 in Liverpool,