622586-1908-Supplementary-Reports-on-the-Health-and-Sanitary-Conditiion-of-the-Colony — Page 93

401

2. Among the chemico-legal investigations conducted during the year were eight cases of suspected human poisoning, in six of which opium was detected. In another case one- sixth of a grain of Gelseminine-the active principle of Gelsemium elegans-was isolated from a stomach. A decoction of the green plant had been administered with some harmless Chinese medicines to a man who died a few hours afterwards with symptoms resembling strychnine poisoning. The woman also took some of the medicine and was ill for several hours, after which she completely recovered. Gelseminine was separated without difficulty from her urine. In a case of a collapse it was suspected that a man had been given poison. Previous to taking food, he drank four ounces of castor oil. This quantity of medicine acted so severely that he collapsed from exhaustion. After a day or two the patient re- covered and confirmed the absence of foul play with regard to his sickness. Strychnine was found in the stomach of a dog, which had died so suddenly and with such symptoms as to excite suspicion.

WATERS.

3. The results of the analyses of samples taken each month from the Pokfulum and Tytam Reservoirs, from the Kowloon Service, and Cheung Sha Wan supply, indicate that these supplies continue to maintain their excellent qualities. As the whole of Kowloon was being supplied from the Cheung Sha Wan source, one sample instead of two from that district was taken monthly after June last.

;

DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE.

4. Of Petroleum Oil 59 samples were tested during the year. All the samples of liquid fuel flashed at temperatures exceeding 150° F. Most of the oil that now arrives here, is already covered by certificates so that there has been a large decrease in recent years in the number of oil examinations.

FOOD AND DRUGS ORDINANCE.

5. The following table gives the results of 53 analyses made at the instance of the Police and the Sanitary Board :—

Beer, Brandy,

Gin,

Milk,

Port Wine,

Description.

No. of Samples.

No. found Genuine.

No. found" Adulterated.

6

29

+ s

4

4

3

3

29

3

8

Whisky,

Many other samples were examined for the public, mostly at the low fee prescribed by the Ordinance.

6. Two samples of Margarine yielded on analysis :-

Ash (salt),

Curd,

Water,

Fat,

In 100 parts.

I.

II.

3.68

4.28

.. 1.02

1.46

9.62

9.86

..85.68

84.40

100.00

100.00