Text-Book of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology #267878

At the present time the duties Of the coroner are chiefly to hold inquiry into the cause of death when there is any reason to doubt that death resulted from natural causes. When death results from natural causes, and under ordinary conditions, the medical attendant is bound, under a penalty of forty shillings, to certify as to the cause. The registrar of deaths accepts such a certificate when accompanied by oral testimony given by a person who was present at the time of death, and issues a certificate accordingly, authorising the interment of the deceased.