Evening star., 1934-07-31
Fiscal Year Report of Or.
Macdonald Stresses
Need of Funds.
LARGER M0RGUE SOUGHT
AND NEW LABORATORIES
Microanalyst Held Necessary to
Aid Police in Crime In
vestigation.

Sudden deaths, deaths by violence
and those occurring under circum-
stances considered sufficiently Sus-
picious to warrant Investigation con-
stituted approximately one-third Of
the total reported in the District of
Columbia during the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1894.
This fact is revealed in the annual
report of DR.. A. Magruder Mac
Donald, the Districts coroner, who
includes in his official statement
recommendations for construction of
a new 100000 morgue and establish
ment Of laboratories for a District
mdcroanalyst and bacteriologist.
Need for Microanalyst.
Inadequate facilities and insufficient
funds led to the abolition of the posi-
ton Of microanalyst at the end Of
the fiscal year. but the coroner's re-
port stresses the need for such a
trained employe, not only to assist
him in his work. but also to assist the
District police in the investigation Of
crime.
The coroner's Office now is forced TO
call upon the District health officer
for all such scientific investigations.
but DR.. Macdonald feels they should
be performed By a specialist employed
for the purpose.
During the past year the coroner's
office investigated 2,503 deaths. repre.
senting 32.05 per cent Of the total
deaths In the District during the year.
This volume of work, DR.. MaeDon-
aid asserted, stresses the need for more
space in the morgue. There Is space
now to handle only II bodies, and at
one time recently, the report showed.
IL bodies were crowded into the place
The coroner recommended facilities
Tor handling at least 30 bodies.
Larger personnel for the coroner's
staff, DR.. Macdonald declared. also
Is pressing need. At present the
stan Is composed of Coroner Mac
Donald, DR.. Christopher J. Murphy.
deputy coroners ]. Bradford Mccoy,
secretary to the coroner and morgue
supervisor. and two general work.
men.
In addition TO a microanalyst. DR..
Macdonald wants q clerk to assist
Mccoy In his work and one other
employe for general utility work.
The statistical sections Of the re.
port showed that In addition 10 the
2,503 deaths called to the attention
OF the coroner's Office, 226 inauests
were held and 6os autopsies were per-
formed.
6ss Violent Deaths.
OF the total 6ss were violent deaths
II were attributed TO illegal opera
tons, l,406 were attributed 10 natural
causes and 3o2 babies were pronounced
dead at birth.
The number Of deaths reported was
an increase Of more than 900 over
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1888.
In 1888 there were only 2I4 inquests
and 378 autopsies.
OF the violent deaths I35 were
classed as homicides, 96 Of these be-
ing colored persons. Suicides num-
bered IA.
Accidental falls from windows,
stairs, ladders, scaffolds, bathtubs
and what not, accounted for lO7
fatalities. OF these II were persons
who merely fell to the floor and Is
were workmen killed when they
dropped TO the ground while en-
ployed on buildings under construc-
ton.
During the Winter four deaths were
caused by shedding accidents.
Other forms Of violent deaths In
cluded In elevator eec4dents, IL from
accidental asphyxiation, 80 accidental
drownings, As from burns and legal
electrocutions.