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26
THE NEW MORTUARY.
Mr. Dixon has furnished me with the following return.
Total number of bodies removed to Mortuary )
during the year
114
Number of Inquests held12
Number of post-mortem examinations 7
During the present Epidemic, the Old Dead-house was used
for those dying from Small Pox.
In all cases where Malignancy prevails or a succession of Fevers
happen, I make it a rule, personally to investigate the cause, and
when this is not apparent as evidenced by untrappo drains or
contaminated water-supply, it is my practice to have the drainage
explored from the commencement to its outlet.
The following cases are important as showing the frequent
necessity for this.
(Case No 1.)
Double outbreak of Scarlet Fever at Brixton.
On the 21st of January 1876, the first child aged two years and
nine months, died of malignant Scarlet Fever after 14 days'
illness, and the second, aged three years and nine months, died at
the end of 24 days. It was the impression of the parents, that
the children contracted the disease through visiting a family in
which it was supposed there had been Scarlet Fever, but this had
no foundation Soon after the deaths of the children, the parents
left town for the sea side, and the furniture, bedding &c., were
disinfected, and the rooms fumigated. There was no record of any
case of infectious Fever having occurred for 12 years previously.