Mr. John Johnson, the registrar of one part of the Shoreditch district, was asked—
Of the labouring classes, what proportion of the families have more than two rooms?—I cannot say the number; but there is a vast number who occupy one room, and some occupy two rooms; some occupy a kitchen and one room, or a little parlour and kitchen, and some two rooms up-stairs, some one room; perhaps if they have two rooms up-stairs they have a family in each.
Do you find, on visiting those places, upon the occurrence of a death, that the dead body is retained in the living and sleeping room?—Frequently we find it so.
And the family are eating and pursuing the ordinary offices of life in the room where the body lies?—Yes.
Have you found the body retained for a long time?—No, they do not usually keep it longer than five or six days; but I have known instances where the body has been kept two and three weeks.
But in that time does it not acquire a putrid smell?—Yes, and in rooms where I have gone to register births I have found the effluvia so bad that I have been obliged to go out of the house without effecting the register.
It had an effect upon your health for the time being?—Yes.
When you go to register deaths at the houses of the labouring classes, are you on the whole well received?—Generally very well; they consider we pay them a compliment by calling upon them.
They do not deem your registration or inquiry an intrusion?—Not at all.
Mr. W. H. Wheatley, the registrar for the Old Church district of Lambeth, was asked—