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with another assistant ?--Yes. I would particularly draw attention to the fact that the Government Analyst proper should not have his time taken up with supervision at the Government Civil Hospital.
That is a question as to the division of the work, but however you divide the work could the whole of the work at the Hospital be effectively carried out if there werę another assistant ?—Yes.
Would that enable the whole work to be as effectively done, as far as the Sanitary Board's work is concerned, as in England?—Yes, provided that the Government Analyst has no other work but analytical work to do. I must draw attention to that point, because it is really of great importance.
That means the complete separation of what I may call the apothecary's work from the analyst's work ?-Yes.
Mr. COBBOLD.-How many analysts are there now in the service of the Government of Hongkong ?-Two.
And how many more are required to carry out the Food and Drugs Ordinance effectively?--One.
The CHAIRMAN.-Can you suggest any useful practical result likely to be obtained by proceeding further with the present enquiry?—I have to prepare a report on samshu, and I think it would be as well that the Commission should have that report before finishing their labours.
Mr. COBBOLD.--I understood you have practically tested some of the cheap liquors by consuming them yourself?-- Yes.
In how many cases ?--I have examined several.
I do not mean how many have you examined, but how many have you subjected to this practical test ?-About nine or ten out of thirty-one.
Have you analysed the beer ?--Yes; the beer is very good in the Colony.
Have you taken sufficient liquor to produce toxic effects ?-No. I would draw attention to the fact that some spirits were sent to me and it was asserted that one glass would cause a man to become insensible. After having chemically examined then I considered such an effect to be impossible, but as I wanted to make positively certain whether such injurious liquor existed in the Colony I drank in some cases two ounces and I found them, if anything, weaker than ordinary good whiskey.
Have you examined the cheapest spirits so far as you know ?--Yes, that sold at 20 cents or 35 cents a bottle.
I thought you said it was sold at 20 cents ?--I forget how much, but it is sold at various prices. I would say as regards all these cheap liquors that they lack flavour and body, but otherwise there is nothing else the matter with them.
From what is samshu distilled ?--From rice.
And have you visited and inspected the distilleries here ?--One only.
Are there many ?-There are a number of them, but I am reporting on samshu for the use of the Commission later.
Mr. BROWNE. Here I have eight samples of these cheap whiskies, here also a sample of spirit containing 1 per cent. of amylic alcohol. You will see that the cheap liquors have but little odour and that if tested roughly for fusel oil by rubbing on the hand the cheap whiskies leave no odour whatever.
The Commission then adjourned.