London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Merton and Morden 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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Inquests. Inquests were held 011 25 deaths occurring in
the district, 12 of which were in respect of residents. The
verdicts returned were as follows:—
(1) Accidental Deaths-
| Collision with Motor Vehicles | ||
| Collision with train | 1 | |
| Multiple Burns | 3 | |
| Falls | 5 | |
| Carbon Monoxide Poisoning | ||
| Asphyxia, caused by pillow | 1 | |
| 14 | ||
| (2) Suicide by— | ||
| Coal Gas Poisoning | 3 | |
| Decapitation by train | 1 | |
| Asphyxia by Hanging | 2 | |
| — | 6 | |
| (3') Misadventure— | ||
| Post-operative conditions | 2 | 2 |
| — | ||
| (4) Murder by— | ||
| Manual strangulation | 1 | 1 |
| — | ||
| (5) Natural Causes— | ||
| Pulmonary embolism following thrombosis | 1 | |
| — | 1 | |
| (6) Open Verdict— | 1 | |
| — | 1 | |
| 25 | ||
The total number of inquests held were nine less than
in the year before. Road accidents were responsible for two
of the total accidental deaths, as in the previous year.
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