THE CITY MORGUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12551, 12 July 1901, Page 2

THE CITY MORGUE.

REMARKS BY DOCTOR AND CORONER. At the inquest on Mrs Caroline Kennell on Wednesday, Dr William Diamond, after giving his evidence, drew the attention, of the Coroner to the extreme difficulty ' of making a full .and: proper post-mortem examination in such cramped and unsuitable quarters as those* provided in an hotel. Mr Bishop, said that the complaint was an. old one, and that it seemed no one's business to provide a proper morgue. He believed one was now in process of erection, but it was not available yet. Br Diamond said that stano day a case might arise'when, it would be a matter of the first importance that the examination should bo a complete one, as when there were faint traces of poison, and he hoped something .would .bo done shortly, ' THE PRESENT POSITION. In consequence of the remarks of Dr Diamond, a. representative of this journal yesterday endeavoured to find out the exact position in regard to the newly-erect-ed corporation morgue, and when it would be available for use. The Town Clerk, upon being applied to, stated that the morgue was now completed and ready for use, and that had the police, on Wednesday, applied 'for it, it would : have been placed at their disposal in connection with the case referred to above. Wiui the exception of a small amount which was kept in hand for contingencies, the contractor, Mr. W. Smith, had received his final payment for.the work. Mr S. Hurst Sea.gar, the architect for the build- . ing, had called at the, City, Council office that morning, and informed the Town Clerk that the keys-had been left at the corporation yard, and!. the reporter could get them there, and look through the place. Inspector Ellison, upon being seen on the matter, stated that although he had seen it mentioned in the newspapers that the' Council was erecting a morgue, he knew nothing of the matter officially, and until he was. informed that the morgue was, ready .for- use, and under what conditions' the police could take bodies there, he would fee unable to issue, the necessary instructions to'his staff for taking advantage of it. . /. Dr Symes, the public 'health officer, was yesterday morning, endeavouring to arrange for the supply of-a temporary table on which to do the dissecting until the special anatomical weighing table', which is in course of construction, is completed, juie doctor pointed out that if will be necessary, for some person to be appointed to look after the morgue, and that it will be necessary: to have a, small contingent fund to pay for' the up-keep and the incidental expenses in connection with postmortems. His suggestion is'that, as under the Public Health Act, each local body is compelled to, pro-' vide, a morgno, the surrounding boroughs, instead of doing so, should send al.l the cases to the city morgue, and pay a sum of say £1 for. each. case. The morgue itself is a somewhat pre-, tentious building of brick, with very highpitched roof. Running along the greater? portion of the front d's a long enclosed' verandah. ]?rom this do-übl-s doors lead, into a chamber 21ft x 12ft,'which, is pro-. vided with a couple of concrete slabs for laying cut bodies, and over each slab, is awater spray so that the bodies "can be kept cool. At the back of this is the dissecting room, 21ft x 13ft. In this, as a concrete bath, about 3ft deep for dealing with bodies in an advanced stage of decomposition. The bath will be filled with a disinfectant, and by means of a tray which, is worked, by a windlass hoist the bodies can bo immersed, to any depth required. There are also slate slabs on which to do the mox-e minute dissecting work,-, ond these are fitted with a high pressure, water supply, and. enamelled-ware tubs, while a : gas:geyser is also .'fitted, up. for supplying hot water. The floors of both these rooms are of concrete, and all clrahiage.. is . connected . with the main sewers. The rooms,..arc .extremely, well lighted. At the north end of the building is the inquest room, 20ft x 15ft, and at the rear are the. usual offices. At the present time there is no furniture of any kind in the place, and' although bodies could be received there, there is no accommodation for dissecting them, or for holding inquests. . • '