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43
necessary in order to secure the ends of justice, and
it is in these cases that not only families but whole
houses of families are grievously injured by the
absence of any arrangement for the proper disposal
of the dead.
REGISTRATION OF DEATHS.
I have often called your attention to the fact
that many deaths appear on the register witheut
any medical certificate, or the information that a
coroner's inquest has been held. In many of these
cases I believe that the coroner's information is
returned after the death has been registered, but as
this is a practice that must lead to incorrect results
in estimating the death of the year, I allude to it
as a source of error which ought to be corrected.
At the same time I have the notes of cases in
which certificates of registration of death have been
granted, where certainly the coroner ought to have
been informed of the death. The Government
has given its sanction to the holding of inquests in
all cases of persons found dead, or suddenly dying
witheut medical assistance, or dying from accidental
or personal violence or poison. In such cases it
ought neither to be in the power of the registrar or
coroner, or any other party, to prevent inquiry; but
it is constantly the case that the registrar assumes
to judge whether inquiry is necessary or not, and
if he decides against the inquiry no inquest is held.
I must protest against this power being placed in