View report page

33
because in some the whole of the building ground was nearly
covered at last census, whilst in others a large proportion of
buildings have been erected, and there is still a good deal of
building ground uncovered. It is probable that this number,
3,650, would give a nearer approach to exactness than that
of 3,682, as I do not know the population belonging to
Hackney in these asylums, but I preferred erring on the side
of excess of deaths than otherwise.
There have been 69 dead bodies removed to the Mortuary
during the year, the majority by the Police, as the deaths
chiefly resulted from drowning, accident, or suddenly in a
public place. There was only one body received there when
the death was caused by infectious disease, viz., from small-pox.
In this case the coffin was filled with saw-dust nearly saturated
with a strong solution of chloride of zinc, sorewed down, and
placed in the air-tight receptacle lately made for such bodies.
In a large proportion of the cases post-mortems were made,
and as on one occasion the upper chamber was full, a body
requiring a post-mortem was necessarily placed in the lower
chamber, which was not fitted for that purpose, another postmortem
table has been provided, which, as well as the air-tight
case, can be moved to a new mortuary when built.