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page 31). Under the provisions of the Public Health (London)
Act, when it comes into operation in 1892, Sanitary Authorities,
alone or in combination, will be required to provide mortuaries.
The London County Council desire to provide a Morgue for
the unidentified dead, and no doubt it would be a useful institution;
especially should provision be made for preserving bodies
unchanged in appearance whilst awaiting identification. The
required power will be conferred by the Public Health (London)
Act when it comes into operation in 1892.
CORONER'S COURT.
For some years it has been a common practice on the part
of Sanitary Authorities, to provide a court for the Coroner in
connection with the public mortuary, so as to obviate the scandal
of holding inquests at public-houses. This course seemed to me
unnecessary when plans for the mortuary were under consideration,
as there were rooms at the Vestry Hall suitable for the purpose.
My anticipation that a room could and would be provided for the
Coroner's use in that buildingnot having been realised, your Vestry
fitted up a room, in January, 1889, at the Town Hall, where, in
eleven months of the year ended 31st December, 61 inquests were
held out of a total of 141. The bulk of the remaining 80 inquests
were held at public-houses; so that the object your Vestry had in
view in providing the accommodation was but partially realised.
"When inquests are held at public-houses, the post-mortem examination
of the body is almost necessarily made in the house where
death takes place, at which, too commonly, proper accommodation
is totally wanting. Communications passed in 1889, between your
Vestry and the Coroner, with regard to the use of the court and
of the mortuary, which issued in a more adequate use being made
of these valuable institutions. In February, 1890, the London
County Council passed a resolution to the effect "That all
Coroners having jurisdiction within the administrative County of
London be instructed, as far as it is practicable, and