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49
The verdicts returned varied from in the case of the adult,
of Natural or Accidental Causes of death, to that of the infant,
who died of Wilful Murder by some person or persons unknown.
The constant rule of the Coroner of ordering the removal
of all bodies coming under his notice to the Mortuary, has
pressed severely on our accommodation, which indeed at times
has not been at all adequate. As an instance of which I would
state that five bodies were removed on May 19th to the Mortuary,
on which post mortem examinations had to be made. Two
medical gentlemen met at the same time, one was using the
post mortem table and the other had to use one of the dead
house slates on which to perform his operations, without any
convenience whatever and in the presence of other corpses in
a most offensive and putrid state ; should this necessity occur
during the period of an epidemic with infectious bodies lying
therein the danger is impossible to estimate. This not only
applies to the person who performs his official duties but to the
friends and relatives who come to visit the remains of the poor
departed, and it is a question which will sooner or later arise, as
to the provision of an extra post mortem operating room, and also
that of another chamber for the reception of persons dying from
dangerous infectious disease, for it must be palpable to anyone,
that persons visiting a mortuary in which bodies dying from
infectious disease are deposited in one common chamber, that
mischief will inevitably arise.
There is, whilst on this subject another matter which should
be mentioned on behalf of the Jurymen who have to view the
remains before holding an inquest and that is, that a glass sliding
window should be placed between the Mortuary proper and the
post mortem room, so that the body might be viewed through the
window and so prevent actual contact which at times must be
very revolting to their feelings.
Under the care of the late Mr. Saxby the Mortuary has
been well kept and there was no fault to be found at the way he
performed his duties therein.