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2. Among the chemico-legal investigations conducted were 14 cases of suspected human poisoning. Realgar was separated in one case, Lysol in one, Arsenic in three, and Opium in three cases. The head of a fish was sent for examination as it was suspected to belong to a poisonous kind. It was identified as a species of Tetrodon. It has on several occasions caused death in the Colony. Probably only a prolonged investigation would isolate the poisonous principle of this fish, but the undertaking of this, or of any other similar subject of enquiry, would interfere with necessary routine work, and is therefore indefinitely held over. The fish is known to the Chinese as Ki Pau. It is stated that it requires particular preparation for food and that certain other kinds of food should never be cooked with it, as these latter may fix the poison. From these statements it appears, that the poison is probably of a volatile nature, present only in certain parts of the fish, and which by well boiling may be dissipated.
Lysol is a preparation containing about 50 per cent of cresols. Several deaths in other countries have occurred from taking this disinfectant.
WATERS.
3. The results of the analyses of samples taken each month from the Pokfulum and Tytam Reservoirs, and from the Cheung Sha Wan supply, indicate that these supplies continue to maintain their excellent qualities.
DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE.
4. Of petroleum oil 90 samples were tested during the year. All the samples of liquid fuel flashed at temperatures exceeding 150° F. Most of the oil that now arrives here, is already covered by certificates so that there has been a large decrease in recent years in the number of oil examinations.
On February 9th, on the tankship Nerite, there occurred an explosion which killed and badly burned two men and injured another so severely that he died later. Evidence showed that in the forehold there was a paint locker containing about 30 open tins of paint and an open drum of turpentine. Work was going on with naked lights at the bottom of the hold. There was no petroleum on board and all the tanks and pipes had been ventilated. An explosion occurred first in the paint locker and afterwards in the hold itself causing injury as stated. No damage was done to the vessel. I pointed out at the enquiry that a paint locker containing dangerous articles should not form part of a hold.
FOOD AND DRUGS ORDINANCE.
5. The following table gives the results of 66 analyses made at the instance of the Police and the Sanitary Board :-
Description No. of Samples No. found genuine No. found adulterated Beer 6 6 Brandy 4 4 Milk 35 35 Port Wine 3 3 Whisky 18 18Many other samples were examined for the public, mostly at the low fee prescribed by the Ordinance.
PHARMACY ORDINANCE.
6. This Ordinance was passed during the year, and under its provisions the sale of certain poisons is confined to registered chemists or to persons specially licensed. Informalities were proved in the sale of Lysol, Chlorodyne, Tonic Pills and Fellow's Syrup, and four prosecutions successfully sustained.