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10
Public Mortuary.
The want of a Public Mortuary for this district has long been felt.
The chapel at the Bloomsbury Burial Ground in Henrietta Street,
Brunswick Square, is very old and dilapidated, and unfit for this
purpose, to which, by the permission of the Bector of the parish, it is
applied for the necessities of the extreme northern end of the district.
There is also the want of a Coroner's Court and a Post-mortem
Boom, the inquests in the district in many cases being held in
taverns or public-houses where there are no rooms suitable for the
purpose; and the attendance at a public tavern is to the better class
of people highly objectionable and painful, affording also an opportunity
for drinking, which often results in most unseemly behaviour.
The average number of inquests in the district is about 90.
Under these circumstances, the Board has been in search of a site
whereon to erect a Mortuary, Coroner's Court, and Post-mortem
Booms, and after considerable difficulty it has succeeded in finding
the same, and has entered into an agreement with the Trustees of the
Alms House Charities of these parishes to take on lease for 80 years,
at a ground rent of £52 10s., a piece of ground on the west side of the
new Street, formerly Goldsmith's Alley, measuring 74 feet in
length by 23 feet in width, and to erect thereon a suitable Mortuary,
Coroner's Court, Post-mortem Boom, and Offices, at an estimated cost
of £1,600. The drawings for the same are in course of preparation.
Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875.
The number of articles analysed during the year was 296. Proceedings
were instituted in 18 cases, and convictions obtained in 14
cases; the summonses in the other cases being either withdrawn or
dismissed. The fines and costs imposed amounted to £27 8s. 6d.
The continued enforcement of the Acts in this district has very
considerably abated the adulteration of articles of food.
The Annual Beport of Dr. Bedwood, the Analyst, forms part of this
Beport.
Sanitary Acts.
During the past year there have been 17 Summonses under these
Acts, which have been heard by the Magistrates. Orders have been
made for the abatement of the nuisances complained of. The Orders
have been either complied with by the owners of the premises wherein
the nuisances existed, or they have been enforced at the cost of such
parties.