C.O. 12802
316
Received 15 APR 09.
Hon. Principal Civil Medical Officer,
There is nothing in this osmium theory.
Osmium occurs as a metal associated with the platina metals - platinum, iridium, osmium, rhodium, ruthenium, and palladium.
Osmium tetroxide, which gives off a poisonous vapour attacking eyes and lungs, is not found in nature and cannot be formed from the metal and nitrates except at a red heat. Even then the substance is soluble in water and is rapidly decomposed by organic matter into non-volatile and harmless materials. Miners of the platinum metals do not appear to have any special sickness.
The communication seems to have been sent to the Government merely to try and get a search for osmium (and thus for platinum metals) instituted.
(sd.) F. Browne,
Government Analyst,
2nd March, 1909.
Enclosure 2.