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Enclosure 3.
Report of the Government Analyst.
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, 20th May, 1890.
SIR, I have the honour to submit a statement of the work done in the temporary Laboratory of this Hospital during the year 1889.
2. In the middle of March I was relieved of my duties in the Sanitary Department by the return from leave of absence of Mr. HUGH MCCALLUM, the Sanitary Superintendent and Secretary to the Sanitary Board. The period during which I acted for this officer extended from October 1st, 1887, to March 14th, 1889.
3. On the 30th of April Mr. W. MALCOLM WATSON retired from the service but his successor did not enter on his duties until February 16th of the present year. The additional work in the Hospital Pharmacy caused by this vacancy devolved on the two Chinese student apothecaries and myself.
4. Toxicological.-Only one investigation under this head was ordered by the Government during 1889. In this case no poisonous principle could be detected in the contents of the stomach forwarded by the Officer in charge of the post mortem examinations.
5. Alcoholic Liquors. In April and August, specimens of Brandy and Whiskey were analyzed at the request of the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police with the object of ascertaining if the samples were adulterated within the meaning of Ordinance 21 of 1886, sec. 2. Negative results were obtained in both cases.
6. In December an examination was made at the instance of the Police Authorities of an alleged medicated spirit. The question as to whether or not this preparation was an intoxicating liquor within the scope of section 6 of The Spirit Licences Ordinance was one for the Magistrate to decide. The sample yielded 6 per cent. of Extract and 84 per cent. of Proof Spirit. Personally I do not see how such a liquor recommended for the cure of a variety of ailments could be regarded as intoxicating under this Ordinance unless evidence was forthcoming that it was used as a beverage instead of ordinary wine or spirit..
7. Milk.-There were no analyses of milk during the past year.
8. Water-Magazine Gap.-In June an analysis was made for the Sanitary Board of a sample of water drawn from a well in the vicinity of the Magazine Gap. The water was certified as being in every way suited for drinking and general domestic purposes.
9. Pokfulam Reservoir.-During June and July a considerable amount of time was devoted to the analysis of the water supplied to the City from this reservoir. After the heavy rains of the preceding month the quantity of suspended matter in this water had considerably increased. The chief object of the analysis ordered by Government was to ascertain if there were reasonable grounds for assuming that sewage had gained access to the water. In this respect the results of the analysis were highly satisfactory. The quantity of nitrogen yielded as Albuminoid Ammonia was not excessive for water collected from large catchment areas in uncultivated districts. The amount of oxygen required to oxidize the organic matter was lower than the quantity that had been observed after very heavy rains in former years. The only objectionable feature was the dense brown turbidity, due for the most part to inorganic matter in suspension. This turbidity of the Pokfulam water had for some time past engaged the attention of the Government. At no period of the year
with the existing works at the source of supply could the water be delivered perfectly clear and bright. It is therefore gratifying to know that the works for filtering this water are now in progress and that there is every ground for assuming that on their completion no complaint under this head will be made in future.
10. As to the cause of the presence of such a large amount of suspended inorganic matter, various opinions were at the time expressed. By many people it was attributed to the cleansing of the reservoir during the preceding dry season: by others to the loosening of the ground within the catchment area (a) by building works and (b) by the planting of trees. Not much weight could be attached to the former opinion as no physical comparison could be made between the debris previously removed from the reservoir bed and the deposit obtained on allowing large quantities of the water to settle. I am of opinion that the loosening of the earth was the primary cause. connection with tree planting I remember that this question was brought before the Sanitary Board at a meeting held in the early part of 1888. The Board expressed itself in favour of the proposal, the Chairman (Mr. PRICE) being the only member who dissented from the opinion of the rest of his colleagues.
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11. It is to be hoped that every effort will be made to prevent the cutting and exposure of earth, no matter what the object may be, in future, otherwise the skill of the engineers will, I fear, fail to ensure during the rainy season a supply of clear and bright water. The presence of suspended