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credit is due for the well-managed and clean condition in which
the premises are kept. Disinfectants are abundantly supplied
to arrest the decomposition of the corpses during the time they
are kept there, and to render the inspection by the juries of
those kept under the Coroner's orders, which is essential, as
little painful and disagreeable as possible.
The Mortuary was opened with some ceremony on April 24th;
and notice was sent to all the medical men of the parish that it
was at their disposal to send corpses when there was not proper
room for them in the dwellings, and to apply to the Vestry in
cases where it might be required to put the law into force for
their removal where this was opposed.
Since the opening of the Mortuary, to the end of the year, 200
bodies were removed there: G6 of these were bodies related to
inquest cases; 50 came from the Workhouse ; and 84 others
were removed there from want of proper space for retention at
the houses of the deceased. 25 post-mortems were made during
the above period.
Hence the Mortuary has already been of immense service,
especially to the poorer portion of the population of this denselycrowded
parish; for the number of removals has been nearly
one-sixth of the total number of deaths taking place in the parish
during the year.
It is to be hoped that, as the Mortuary becomes better known
and appreciated, this number will be still larger.
I think the Vestry and the parishioners have great reason to
be proud of their Mortuary, which is certainly second to none in
the metropolis.
Artizans' Dwellings Improvement Act. — In the
spring of the year one " area" condemned under this Act, in my
"Official Representation" made in 1875, was taken in hand by
the Metropolitan Board of Works, viz., that relating to Pear