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obtained, resulting in fines of a greater or less severity.
Upon a second conviction for the adulteration of milk, a
penalty of £7 was paid in one case. In the majority of cases,
however, the fines were small, the Magistrates appearing
reluctant in this respect to put in force the powers conferred
upon them by the Act.
Mortuary and Inquest Rooms.—On July 11th the
attention of the Sanitary Committee was called by a
report from the Medical Officer to the inconveniences
which arise in the Outer Wards from the lack of mortuary
accommodation, and to the desirability of providing not only
a second mortuary, but inquest rooms in connection with the
proposed and the existing mortuary. Although many sites
have been viewed, some disqualifying particular has prevented
the conclusion of an arrangement, and in consequence
no definite action has been taken in regard to this matter.
The report referred to is couched in the following terms:
"I beg to bring before your notice a subject which requires
your consideration. There is no Mortuary accommodation
provided in the district covered by the five Outer Wards in the
Parish for the cases where death has occurred from violence
or from other causes in which it is convenient to make use of
a public Mortuary. Hence, whilst the preliminary enquiry
as to the cause of death is taking place, and until the
Coroner's Court has delivered judgment and granted a
certificate for burial, the body is retained in the private
house or other inconvenient place, and at times to the injury
of the health of the inmates. When a post-mortem examination
is required it is made at great inconvenience and with
considerable risk to the health not only of the medical man
and his assistants, but of all those under the same roof. In
the district to which I refer there is a population of 200,000,