The times., 1897-07-28
VIOLENT DEATHS OF A YEAR
Coroner'S Grewsome Report to
the Commissioners.
MANY MURDERS AND SUICIDES
An Even Dozen Met Death at the
Hands OF Others, While Thirty
three Committed Seif-Siaughter-
A HunG red Died From Accident
Drowning Greatest Single Cause.

Reports from subordinate departments
showing the work done in the fiscal year
which ended the 30th of last mouth are
beginning to come in TO the Comniis-
sioners.
The most interesting of those 50 far re-
ceived 5 that of Coroner Hammett. whose
resignation was recently called for by
the Commissioners.
1t states that during the year there
have been reported to him 473 deaths, OF
which 100 were accidental, 33 suicidal,
and 1 ? hcTnicidal.
or the accidental deaths the greatest
single cause was drowning -twenty-six.
Ten died from burns, five from fractur es OF
theskGII and despite the common expression
as to the great number OF deaths from cleo
tricity only one from electrocution. Eight
persons died from accidental poisoning, live
swallowed opium, two carbolic acid, and
one lye Railroads are responsible for
sixteen deaths, the locomotives eleven, the
street cars five. One person died from
asphyxietion while eating.
Ofthe twelve murders. five, or nearlyone-
half, were committed with pistols Three
murderers used knives and one strychnine.
! he pistol seemed to be the favorite method
OF committing suicide, there being thirteen
out OF thirty-three suicidal deaths from
gunshot wounds Asphyxia by gas, how
ever, is close second, eli ght. deaths being
due 10 that agency. One person burnt
herself TO death, six took arsenic and
one each is accredited to mercury and
opium poisoning.
tr-a tod To ia
deaths from natural causes, of which the
greatest single cause as yalvular heart
disease, which carried off A.. Alcohol
ism was the cause OF 8 deaths, and
sunstroke OF Z. The other causes of
death were: Gastro-entertis, 46; conges-
ton of the lungs, SO, inanition, 2s: phthisis,
25; shock, 19: cerebral hemorrhage, 10;
senilitv, 8: asthma. 12; burns, 10; con-
gestion OF brain, 10; cerebral congestion.
8; apoplexy, &: hentorhage, 6; dentition,
.: frlcture of skull, s; angina pectoris, .;
partusSis, .; acute rheumatism, >: eXhaus-
ton, 5; convulsions, 3; stab wounds, o:
acute gastritis, 3; tuberculosis, 3: pneu-
aonia. 3; Conclusion of brain, 8, vertigo, B.
Bright's disease, 3; cholera morbus, 2;
acute nephritis, 2; strangulation, 2; ep-
ilepsy. 2: Ldgrippe ,; meningitis, l;
fracture of leg, I: uralmic coma, i; cur
rhosi of kidney, /: fatty heart /; abortion,
1; diphtheria, ] congestion OF stomach,
1; bronchitis, !; paralysis. /; niaiarial
cbIls,
There We're forty-three autopSies held
during the year, and thirty-four inquests.
The board of steam engineers report
the receipg of 105 applications for license,
OF which 30 Were approved. OF these, II
We're first-olass, Is second-class and 43
third-class An estimate of $500 for the
running expenses of the office is made
George 2. Coleson. inspector OF plumb
ing, reports 2,311,I3S feet of plumbing
inspected curing the year
Marketmaster Burns. OF the Western
Market, reports S5,234.56 collected. an
increase OF Sl23.16 over last year He
urges an appropriation OF $1,000 for a
new gas service in the market.
John c. Howard. Inspector OF fuel, gives
q total OF II, 534 tons of coal, and 5,s13
cords OF wood weighed and examinedduring
the year.
Lumber inspectors Champlain, Lowry,
Ballard and Dow report a total OF g.
152, o7s feet of lumber examined and
measured.
Flour Inspector James H Welch re-
ports inspected during the year SO, 500 bar
Iels of flour.
The report of Sealer of Weights and
Measures Bond, resigned, has already been
published In The Times