The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-21
At THE NEW YORK MoReUE.
Description of the Observation-Disclosures
of the Dead-Data Kept
4


of the Dead-Data Kept.
New York Worldl
The morgue proper is large brick room
with stone floor 1t has no furniture of
any description, save six granite slabs
eight feet long each, raised on four iron
posts to a height of four feet, These
slabs are slightly inclined towards the
foot. and have groove running along the
outer edges About two feet above the
from hanging Jet sprinkles the entire
slab. On these slabs the remains of the
unknown dead are placed, and the
spray of water is allowed to sprinkle the
body, running off in the cutters at the
sides. The morgue is kept cool, and the
bodies are held for Identification as long
as the weather will permit. Next to the
morgue proper is a room of equal size
with several smaller slabs This room is
used for coroner's inquests, for post
norton examinations, dissecting and en-
balming. Very many of the cases which
come to Bellvue hospital are in such an
advanced stage that the patient dies before
full understanding of the case has been
gained. Under these circumstances the
coroner orders an inquest to ascertain the
cause of the death. and the hospital
physicians further examine to acquaint
themselves with the disease. The room
is frequently used by medical students for
dissecting, the subjects being furnished
them from the dead house, according to
the law of the state
The second story of the Morgue is oc
cupied by the Wood Anatomical museum,
where may be seen many human CurioSi
ties aud monstrosities. Every peculiar
case that has come to Bellevue for treat
ment has been preserved for the museum.
Either in the original or casts of the orig
inal are shown the steps of development
of all the complicated diseases which have
undergone treatment there. Before the
bodies are removed to the dead house they
are photographed and the negative pre-
served for friends, should any ever ap-
pear. There is a gallery of these pictures
numbering over 800. 1t is a CHASTITY col
lection. The dull, eXpressionless eyes and
distorted features, the disheveiled hair
and bruised skin unite in producing a
horrible effect.
This system of photographing the I'm.
known dead is the invention of the pres
ent superintendent of Bellevue hospital
and has proved invaluable to friends who,
after the lapse of months have been en-
abled to recognize the likenesses. In ad-
dition to this the clothing is accurately
noted and the peculiarities of dress or
person are carefully recorded In book
kept for the purpose. The clothing is
removed from each body and preserved
for three months together with whatever
was found upon the person of the de
ceased. These bundles of clothes, with
perhaps a ring or watch, have often
served to identify the owner long after
the remains have been buried.
The officers in charge of the morgue Is
required TO keep an accurate account of
the age, weight, color, sex, nationality
and general description of everybody that
comes to the morgue. The data is kept
in the morgue book. Here can be seen
a record of every unknown person who
has died in New York for more than
twenty-five years. The utmost care is
exercised in all details, and the authorities
for missing persons are courteously
received and assisted in every way to
identify the lost