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37
lation of watery vapour from the leaves, is quite independent
of the shade they afford from the direct rays
of the sun.
Shade is most grateful and salutary in populous
towns where the pavements become so excessively hot;
the radiation from them often affects the eye-sight as
well as the health of those who are compelled to
expose themselves for long periods to the reflected rays
of the sun upon stones and other smooth surfaces
unprotected by shade. There should be at least one
tree for every citizen in the built-up parts of our
large towns, and their control and cultivation should
be under a qualified authority, the one charged with
the care of streets and public places.
The Mortuary or Dead-house.
There have been 111 bodies brought to the deadhouse
during the year 1873— 1874 (being 38 men,
30 women, 41 children, and 2 still-born), 22 of which
have been brought by the police. Nine bodies have
been taken from the canal, being two men, one woman,
and six children. Five bodies were brought from the
Great Western Railway; one case was a gentleman
who shot himself in one of the closets; another was a
gentleman who fell dead on the platform while waiting
for a train ; another was a man who was killed by
falling between the carriages and platform when the
train was in motion; the other two were newly-born
children found dead by the police.
There have been 75 inquests held during the year,
and 67 post-mortems made.