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25. The chemical investigation was limited to the examination of a voinit and some cheese which had been handed to me by Major ELLIS and also of a quantity of bread and cheese forwarded to me by the Captain Superintendent of Police, and was conducted with a view to finding a poisonous metal in all of the above mentioned substances and an acrid oily principle in the cheese, but all the attempts in this direction proved unsuccessful.
26. From the above particulars it will be seen that there were good reasons for assuming that the cheese was the cause of the mischief, but I am unable to adduce any evidence in confirmation of this theory. Two rats were fed on the cheese for several days but they did not exhibit any signs of poisoning.
27. It is quite possible that there was some obscure principle in the cheese, developed probably by a process of fermentation, which caused the poisonous symptoms displayed by the Bandsmen. It is noteworthy that three of the men who partook of the cheese were in no way affected: a fact, which would lead one to infer that, in cheese poisoning, idiosyncrasy may play a not unimportant part.
28. Mention should here be made that, at the period of the year referred to, several civilians complained of violent sickness after eating cheese.
29. I avail myself of this opportunity for conveying my best thanks to Major W. T. ELLIS, who was then in command of the 2nd Battalion of the 58th Regiment, for the valuable assistance rendered me while investigating this obscure case of poisoning.
GENERAL REMARKS.
30. Students. The Senior Student Apothecary, Mr. U I KAI has worked well during the past year and is making satisfactory progress with his studies. The Junior Student, Mr. CHAU KAM TSUN only entered on his duties on the 15th of October last. His appointment has not yet been confirmed.
31. Laboratory.-The analyses required by Government have been conducted in the temporary laboratory provided in this Hospital some years ago. It is to be hoped that the time is approaching when these make-shift arrangements can be dispensed with. The analytical work for the Government of this Colony is frequently of a very trying nature: that required in forensic cases entails a very heavy responsibility which ought only to be borne by a Chemist who has the best means at his disposal that both art and science can suggest. More than five years have now elapsed since the time when I was assured a suitable laboratory would have been provided. The work during the past five years has, however, not been without some good results, but its usefulness has been restricted by the limited nature of the investigations through want of proper accommodation.
32. It would be well if, when a new laboratory is built, advantage could be taken of the presence of the Government Analyst in England for securing the necessary appliances for furnishing the building. 33. My thanks are due to Mr. MALCOLM WATSON, the Assistant Apothecary, for the assistance he has given me in the Laboratory during the past year.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
WM. EDWARD CROW, Government Apothecary and Analyst,
Civil Medical Department,
Dr. PH. B. C. AYRES,
Colonial Surgeon and Inspector of Hospitals.