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97
It had been suggested that the duty of making the proposed
investigation should devolve on the Medical Officer of
Health as a part of his ordinary work, but the Society did not
approve this view, the adoption of which would impose on the
Medical Officer an onerous and responsible duty, seeing
that "uncertified" deaths include all those cases submitted to
the Coroner as well as the deaths described as "not certified."
Of all the unsatisfactory arrangements connected with uncertified
deaths, it was felt that the least defensible is that which
makes the Coroner's Officer de facto judge, in a doubtful case,
whether an inquest should be held, and the Society, at my instance,
adopted the following resolution bearing on the subject:—
"That the present system of investigation of deaths referred to a
Coroner, viz., by an officer having no special qualifications for the
discharge of the duty, is unsatisfactory."
It follows, as a corollary to this proposition, that the first
instance inquiry should be made by an expert.
INQUESTS.
One hundred and sixty-four inquests were held on
parishioners; 110 in the Town sub-district, 31 in Brompton, and
23 at places beyond the Parish, mostly at public institutions
(hospitals) to which th's deceased had been removed for treatment.
Twenty of these cases belong to the Town sub-district,
and 3 to Brompton. The subjects of inquest were, males 84,
and females 80. The ages at death were: Under five years
48, including 35 under one year; between 5 and 60 years, 79;
at 60 and upwards, 37. The cause of death is stated to have
been ascertained by post-mortem examination in 112 cases.
Thirteen of the subjects of inquest were illegitimate infants.
The Deaths from Violence were 66, of which 10
belong to the Brompton sub-district.
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