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57
than one occasion, and some years ago the Society passed the
following resolution, viz.
"That all cases of uncertified deaths should be reported by the local registrar
of births and deaths to the Coroner, who should, when there is no prima
facie ground for holding an inquest, direct such cases to be investigated by
a registered medical practitioner."
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.
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
preliminary inquiry should be made by an expert.
INQUESTS.
One hundred and ninety-four Inquests were held on
parishioners : 142 in the Town sub-district, 24 in Brompton,
and 28 at places beyond the Parish, mostly at public
institutions (hospitals), to which the deceased had been
removed for treatment. Eighteen of these cases belong to
the Town sub-district, and 10 to Brompton. The subjects of
inquest were: males 109 and females 85. The ages at
death were: under five years 74, including 53 under one
year; between 5 and 60 years, 86; at 60 and upwards, 34.
The cause of death is stated to have been ascertained by
post mortem examination in 144 cases. Ten of the subjects of
inquest were illegitimate infants.