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204
body lies in a room which is used by other persons, it should,
in the same manner, be removed." (Report, page 31). These
powers have been given, but they will be of little avail without
the voluntary assistance of medical practitioners, for very
rarely does the Medical Officer of Health hear of proper cases
for removal, and then usually not until too late to intervene.
It may be added that under the provisions of the Public
Health (London) Act, Sanitary Authorities, alone or in combination,
are required to provide mortuaries.
The Sanitary and Special Purposes Committee of the
County Council thought it would be desirable to exercise the
powers conferred by section 93 of the new Act, for the provision
of a morgue for London, and at the meeting of the Council,
held December 17th, it was resolved "that it be referred to
the Public Health and Housing Committee to consider and
report if, in their opinion, it is necessary to provide a mortuary
for unidentified bodies, and if so, whether it be practicable to
do so in connection with any local mortuary or Coroner's
Court near Charing Cross."
CORONER'S COURT.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 92,
requires the County Council to "provide and maintain proper
accommodation for the holding of inquests," and enables them,
by agreement with a Sanitary Authority, to provide and
maintain the same in connection with a mortuary or a building
for post-mortem examinations provided by that authority, or
with any building belonging to that authority, and to do so
in such terms as may be agreed on with the authority. This
is the course which the Council appear desirous of adopting,
and it is rendered feasible by section 105 (c) which enables
the Sanitary Authority to borrow, with the consent of the
Local Government Board, for the purpose of providing a
building for the holding of inquests Unfortunately, the