View report page

178
the removal of the body, in such cases, by Justice's Order
(Public Health (London) Act, 1891, sec. 89), if persons live
or sleep in the room where the body is retained, or if the
body is in such a state, from decomposition, as to endanger
the health of the inmates of the same house or room.
The Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working
Classes (1885), recommended the provision of additional
mortuaries in London. What, however, is even more
required, at present, is power to compel the removal of the
dead to existing mortuaries, when removal is necessary on
sanitary grounds. The Commissioners recognized this fact,
by implication, in the further recommendation that, "in the
event of a death from infectious disease, the body should
forthwith be removed to a mortuary, in cases where it would
otherwise be retained in a room used as a dwelling by
others." They thought it desirable, moreover, "that in any
case where the 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 it is 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.
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