A supplementary report on the results of a special inquiry into the practice of interment in towns.

by Edwin Chadwick

"A Supplementary Report on the Results of a Special Inquiry into the Practice of Interment in Towns" by Edwin Chadwick is a scientific publication written in the mid-19th century. The report investigates the sanitary conditions resulting from the interment practices among the laboring population in Great Britain, focusing specifically on the health implications of burying the dead in urban areas. It likely presents evidence for recommending changes to interment practices in relation to public health. At the start of the report, Chadwick outlines his motivations for conducting this inquiry at the request of the Home Department. He highlights the need to understand the impact of interments in urban settings on public health, particularly the potential dangers posed by decomposing bodies and their exhalations. The inquiry draws upon testimonies from various stakeholders, including religious ministers and undertakers, indicating a widespread acknowledgment of interments' adverse effects on health. Chadwick also emphasizes the importance of gathering systematic information to propose remedial actions, acknowledging the moral and physical discomfort associated with the subject matter.