415
A large number of wells have been closed during the past three years, and as regards the water supplies of every description in this Colony it is satisfactory to know that they are all at present supplying water that is fit for potable purposes.
In Appendix A will be found the results of the analyses of 26 well-waters.
8. The Dangerous Goods Ordinances, 1873 and 1892.--Of petroleum 120 samples were examined and were found to give off inflammable vapour at temperatures considerably above the 73° F. limit. 9. The Food and Drugs Ordinance, 18 of 1896.—Twenty-six samples were examined :—
Description.
Number of samples.
Number found Number found
genuine. adulterated.
Milk, Whiskey,
Beer,.
Coffee,
Bread,
9
7
1
THE MORPHINE ORDINANCE, 1893.
10. There was one prosecution under this Ordinance, and three exhibits were forwarded for examination, all of which contained morphine hydrochloride.
MISCELLANEOUS.
11. Buffalo Milk.-Four samples collected in August had the following composition in 100 parts by weight:
Description.
Specific Gravity at 15.5° C.
Total Solids.
Fat.
Solids not Fat. Ash.
Water.
Morning,
1.038
19.92
7.86
12.06
.80
80.08
Morning,
1.034
21.92
9.89
12.03
.85
78.08
Evening,
1,028
16.97
6.33
10.64
.68
83.03
Evening,
1.037
21.05
7.85
13.20
.79
78.95
12. Coins. The following shows the composition of three Chinese 20-cent pieces and of three Chinese 10-cent pieces :--
20-cent pieces marked Kwangtung Province 1 mace 4.4 candareens.
10-
"}
7.2 candareens.
19
}}
Description.
Specific Gravity. Weight in Grains.
Weight of Silver in 1,000 parts.
20-cent,..
10.256
82.47
795.4
do.,
10.248
81.68
801.7
do..
10.253
$2.92
790.3
10-cent,
10.373
41.38
798.0
do., do.,
10.342
41.44
796.6
9.912*
40.85
803.3
* Confirmed by subsequent experiment.
13. Disinfectants.-Many much-advertised preparations have been found in previous years to have been perfectly useless. During the past year one of these so-called disinfectants was found to be in use in a house where a considerable number of cases of enteric fever were taking place. On occasions when it is imperative that a reliable disinfectant should be employed, recourse should be had only to pre- parations which are known to contain a sufficient quantity of either carbolic acid, perchloride of mercury, or other similar substances which will render such a preparation efficacious. During the past year one disinfectant was examined. Its composition was as follows:-
Coal tar acids, Neutral Oils,... Water,
12)
80 Percentages by volume.
8