38
No cases of murder by poisoning occurred, any deaths being the result of suicide or accident.
Table II.
Chemico-Legal Samples.
Toxicological examinations (including post mortem materials from 20 persons).. 124 Urine and blood for alcohol
Articles connected with acid-throwing..
robbery with violence
arson
boms and explosives
Miscellaneous examinations
39
Commercial Samples (Continued)
Lubricating oil Fertilisers
6
Saccharin
#
3
Beer
6
Drugs Foodstuffs
12
Water
14
Steamer tank tests.
5 20
Damaged cargo Hides
12
Miscellaneous metals, minerals,
dyestuffs, chemicals, etc. 66
855
12
19
3
4
12
(vii) Coal.
16
190
Table III.
Toxicological Examinations
No poison found .....
49
Phenolic or cresolic compounds.
23
Opium
13
Strychnine
10
Barbituric acid derivatives.
葙
4
$
4
2
2
2
3
1
1
124
Alcohol
Bodium nitrite
Arsenic
Caustic alkali
Cyanides
Phosphorus
Potassium permanganate: Hydrocarbon oil Nitrobenzene
(vi) Commercial.
Commercial work has been on a scale even higher than previously. As the Laboratory is the only one functioning in the Colony, heavy demands have been made by the business community in it's efforts to restore trade. A separate table (Table IV) shows the number and variety of commodities dealt with, and the fees paid into the Treasury for this work amounted to $37,442, the great proportion of this having been received in the last six months. Fees were increased by some fifty percent over the 1941 Sgures, a very moderate figure compared with general local trends in prices,
Wood oll.
Table IV.
Commercial Samples.
158
Wolfram ore
51
Aniseed oil
139
Bismuth ore...............
T
Cassia oil
46
Manganese ore
4
Camphor oil
11
Chromium ore
2
Palm oil
2
Sands and clays
Tea oil,
Coal, coke, graphite.
9
Silver bullion
69
Chinese wine
47
* 1***
Tin
63
Camphor powder...
33
Antimony regulus
16
Gold
Aluminium
*NN
Wax
22
Bleaching powder
8
2
Molasses and sugar
7
Although equipment is not yet available for the complete testing of coal, some degree of investigation has been applied to the fuels used by the Public Works Department. An improvised bomb calorimeter is in course of preparation.
(vii) Miscellaneous.
Under this heading included the numerous and varied samples examined which can find no place in a summarised ætatement. Little work of an investigative nature could be undertaken, but mention should be made of the manufacture in the laboratory of quantities of both prussiale and ferro-gallato blueprint paper for the Crown Lands and Surveya office.
EQUIPMENT.
No new apparatus, chemicals or books have been received since the Laboratory was re-opened, with the exception of one or two items purchased locally. Such instruments as were not partially looted have been cleaned and are of limited use. The Public Works Department has been of very great service in improvising and repairing electrical equipment, but there can be no doubt that the pre-war policy of having adequate stocks of high grade material, and regular maintenance, bão paid a very handsome dividend.
STAFF.
The Laboratory has suffered, in common with other institutions, from a severe shortage of trained personnel. Mr. Edwards was killed in action in Hong Kong on 19th December, 1941, and Mr. D. Loie lost his life while working as a British agent during the occupation.
The late Mr. P. B. Symons, a former Assistant Government Chemist, returned to Hong Kong with the British Military Administration, and did invaluable work in reorgauising the Laboratory until his untimely death on 22nd March, 1948.
Mr. V. C. Branson, Government Chemist, and Mr. J. Redman proceeded on leave on 26th September, 1945, and Mr. Redman returned from leave on 14th March, 1946. Mr. Branson retired from the service with effect from 1st November, 1946.
Mr. A. Kurrik, Assistant Chemist, proceeded on leave on 25th September, 1945 and returned on 8th June, 1946,
Mrs. A. Chung and Mr. Hui Pak Mi joined the statt in temporary capacities during the Military Administration, and returned to their duties at the University of Hong Kong on 31st May, 1946 and 21st October, 1946, respectively.
Mr. R. Barradas, Sampler, joined the staff on 1st March, 1946.
Mr. D. J. Mackenzie, Assistant Chemist, joined the staff on 2nd May, 1946.
J. REDMAN, B.BG/TECH, A.M.CI, ARIC.
Government Chémiát (Acting).