, 1885-09-30
All The NEW YORK MoReus.
Description of tho ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Of the Dend-Data Kept.

Description Of inc ihtsrlof-i notosrhph1
Of the Dead Data Kept.
New YORK World
Tie morgue proper is a large brick room
with II stone tOOI II has 40 furniture of
any description. sac 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
font. and have a groove running along The
outer edges. About two feet above he
head Of each slab IL spray Of water
from "a hanging jet sprinkles the entire
slab IN these slabs the remains of the
unknown dead are placed. and the
spray of wafer is allowed to sprinkle the
body. running OIL in the cutters at the
sides. Tho morgue is kept cool. and the
bodies are held Tor Identification as long
as the weather will permit. Next to the
morgue proper is n room of equal size
with several smaller slabs. This room is
used for coroner's inQuests. for post
mortem examinations, dissecting and en-
halming very many Of the cases which
como t. Bel we hospital are in such an
advanced stage that the patient dies before
a full understanding of the case has heeh
gained. lnder these circumstance the
coroner orders an inquest to ascertain the
cnuse Of the death. and the hospital
PHYSICIANS further examine to acquaint
themselves with the disease. The room
is frequently used by medical students for
disseciing. The subjects being furnished
them from the d%ead-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 and monstrosities. Every peculiar
case that has come TO Bellevue for treat
mcnt has been preserved for the museum.
! ithcr in the original or casts of the orig
inal are shown the steps Of development
Of all tie 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 600 II is a CHASTITY col
lection The dull. expressionless eyes and
distorted features. the dishcyeilcd hair
aud bruised skin unite in producing a
horrible eject
This system of phOtographiug 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 Il book
hAHN ~ AhN W. INHAH az AAhAAAAAh q.
removed from each body and preserved
for three months. together with whatever
was found upon the person Of the dc
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 10 keep an accurate account Of
the age. weight, color. sex, nationality
and general description Of everybody that
comes to the morgue The data is X pit
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
In charge have had long experience in
their peculiar duties. Friends looking
for missing persons are c%ourteously
received and assisted In every way to
identify the lost