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9
Mortuary House.
The necessity of providing a Mortuary has again been strikingly shown
in a case of prolonged retention of a dead body at No. 6, Princes Street,
Whitechapel. In a room in this house, about 8 feet square and about 7 feet
high, occupied by three persons, the dead body of a child, seven years of age,
who died of fever, was kept for a period of nine days. Since the death of
the child, the parents were obliged to take another room in the house, in
consequence of the offensive smell arising from the body. The parents
informed the Inspector that the reason why they could not bury the child
at an earlier period was, that they could not obtain the means to do so. They
further stated that they would have gladly deposited the body of their child
in a building set apart for the reception of the dead, had there been suoh a
place in the District.
Water Supply.
The system of constant water supply to the poorer Districts of the
Metropolis, ought to be insisted on by the several local Boards, for it is the
only plan which will give the poor a sufficient quantity of wholesome water
for domestic use. All, or nearly all, the existing water receptacles in the poor
localities are unfit for the purpose of storing water for drinking. They
should therefore be abolished, and a constant supply of water, direct from
the main, without the intervention of either butts or cisterns, should be
substituted.
It is with much pleasure that I am able to report that there are 75
water-waste preventers in this District, which afford a constant supply to
more than 6,000 poor people.
Public Dust Bins.
There are about 160 public dust bins in this District, all of which the
contractor is bound to empty daily. The importance of the daily emptying
of the public dust bins cannot be over estimated, and it should be rigidly
enforced, for the smell of the contents of these receptacles, when they are
allowed to remain unemptied for a period longer than 24 or 30 hours, is
sometimes intolerable, and is a cause of ill health to persons living in the
vicinity of them. I am sorry to say that the contractor has not given
sufficient attention to the emptying of the public dust-bins during this quarter.
Sanitary Requirements.
In order that the duties of the Sanitary Officers may be carried out in a
more efficient manner, it is necessary: 1st. To build a Mortuary suitable to
receive the bodies of all persons who have died in this District of any
contagious or infectious disease, and a dead body from any room occupied
by several persons. The Mortuary should be so built as to have nothing of
a repulsive character, but it should be so constructed as to present certain
architectural and ecclesiastical ornaments. 2nd. To provide means of disinfection
by erecting a proper building where the disinfection of clothing and
bedding may be carried out. 3rd. To provide a carriage for the conveyance
of infected persons to Hospitals. 4th. To provide a place suitable for the