On the office and duties of coroner : with suggestions for parliamentary inquiry, proposed legislation, and reform of the office / by William Hardwicke.

  • William Hardwicke
Date:
[1879]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the office and duties of coroner : with suggestions for parliamentary inquiry, proposed legislation, and reform of the office / by William Hardwicke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    microscope, means of testing the urine and blood, a graduated glass measure, a coarse sponge, an iron basin, warm water, soap and jack towel, Condy’s liquid for disinfection or deodorizing. The place should be in a secluded spot, not overlooked, with rooms sufficiently spacious, well ventilated from below, with egress of air above and ingress below,plenty of daylight, and gas for use in winter short days, or at night, or for warming and ventilating. The slab or marble table placed in the centre of the room should slope inwardly towards the centre, with grooved side channels leading to the drain, in the middle of it. A flexible tube, with stop- cock, should reach from the water supply cistern to all parts of the room, for washing and cleaning it. Some years ago (in ]\Ir. Cross's time) the Home Secretary sent round to the Coroners for information respecting the Dead-house or Mortuary accommodation in their districts. Answers were requested to the following questions, viz. :—What place is there in the district for the reception of the dead ? Where ? Is it a fitting place ? How near the centre of a district is it situated ? If additional accommodation is wanted ? Suggestions for site. How often used ? Cost of pro- viding ? But I have not heard that any result has followed this inquiry, but the present Home Secretary must come to the same conclusion as I do, that the most shameful indifierencc has been displayed by those who are entrusted with the duty of providing proper places for the reception of the dead.