The Sun. — 1865-05-25 (London, England)

CORONERS' INQUESTS.  Dr. Lankester, the coroner for Central Middlesex, has sent in his second annual report for the central district of Middlesex, from August 1, 1863, to July 31, 1864, for presentation to the magistrates. The first portion consists of a table giving an account of the number of inquests held in the various parishes in the district in the years ending respectively on July 1, 1863, and July 31, 1864. From this table it appears that there were held 1,271 inquests in the year, making 191 inquests more in the last than in the former year. This increase has taken place principally in the parishes of St. Pancras, Marylebone, Islington, Clerkenwell, and St. Giles's, and is due to two causes,—first, the natural increase of population ; and secondly, the increased vigilance of the summoning officers. The increase of the population of the year has probably been about 25,000, which would give, according to last year's average, about 40 additional cases. The latter cause has, however, acted most powerfully. In St. Pancras, Islington, and St. Giles's, where the increase has been largest, new officers have been appointed, and there are no longer any complaints of the neglect of inquiry such as he felt bound to refer to in his last report. So great, in fact, was the abuse and inconvenience of employing parish constables, appointed by vestries, that in the case of the parish of St. Pancras he had reluctantly to insist on his right to send his warrant for inquests to an officer of his own selecting. One of the most noticeable features in the returns, says Dr. Lankester, is the increase of inquests under the head of accidental deaths, which amount to the large number of 70 cases :—" While the increase of inquests under the head of natural deaths may be attributed to the causes I have mentioned, I cannot suppose that deaths from accident have been previously overlooked. I attribute the increase of accidental deaths mainly to these causes :—First, the increased traffic in the streets of London ; just as the metropolis increases on all sides does the traffic of its central streets become developed, and either the carelessness or foolhardiness of drivers of vehicles and foot passengers become the source of accidents destructive of life. Secondly, the enormous development of building in the centre of London, employing many thousands of men either in the destruction of old buildings or in the building of new ones of unexampled size and extent, undoubtedly contributes to a large increase in the number of accidents. In passing I may observe that, although in these cases it is seldom that criminal verdicts are returned, the moral influence of the Coroner's Court is immense. In a large proportion of deaths from accidental causes the verdicts are accompanied with recommendations for the better security of human life, which in the majority of instances I have reason to know are attended to." The increase of verdicts under the head of suicide and homicide is not greater than may be accounted for by the increase of population. The diminution of verdicts of " deaths from unknown causes" may be accounted for by juries more frequently returning verdicts of " wilful murder" in the case of newly-born children found dead in the streets. In a second table Dr. Lankester has arranged the inquests of the two past years according to the months. From this it will be seen that there are decidedly fewer inquests in the months of August, September, and October. In these months the average is 160 in the month. In the three following months—November, December, and January— the average increases to 209, while the highest average is obtained in February, March, and April, when they reach 216 in the month. In May, June, and July this number falls to 197 in the month. The greatest number of verdicts of " natural death" are given in the spring and winter months of the year. Old persons and children suddenly die from the effects of cold. The greatest number of accidental deaths are met with in the winter and spring months. The number of inquests in the first six months of the two years is 408 against 354 in the last six months. Suicide appears to be the most constant of all the causes of death into which the in= quests are divided as far as season is concerned. There is a slight excess observable in the autumn and winter quarters, being 78 against 64 in the spring and summer quarters. Another table gives the number of inquests held in hospitals, prisons, and lunatic asylumns in the central district of Middlesex. This table shows that while the number of inquests held in St. Mary's, Middlesex, and University College Hospital have been nearly the same there has been a large increase at the Royal Free. The Great Northern, which during the previous year had been removed from King'scross to the Caledonian-road, Islington, and received