L 85
TOXICOLOGICAL.
2. Among the chemico-legal investigations conducted were 16 cases of suspected human poisoning. Opium was present in six enquiries, cocaine in one, and Japanese Star Anise in another. In this last a woman drank a decoction of about 30 fruits, which caused her death.
WATERS.
3. The results of the analyses of samples taken each month from the Pokfulum, Tytam and Kowloon Reservoirs, indicate that these supplies continue to maintain their excellent qualities. The average quantity of oxygen absorbed from permanganate was '012, '008, and '006 grain per gallon for Pokfulum, Tytam, and Kowloon water, respectively. This very low figure shows how small in amount is the soluble organic matter, and consequently of any previous sewage contamination. There are very few, even waters of the highest class, that absorb as little oxygen as these waters.
DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE.
4. Of petroleum oil and liquid fuel 110 samples were tested during the year. The Clowes-Redwood apparatus for detecting inflammable air has been used on 15 ships.
FOOD AND DRUGS ORDINANCE.
5. The following Table gives the results of 43 analyses made at the instance of the Police and the Sanitary Department:
Description. No. of Samples. No. found Genuine. No. found Adulterated. Beer, 6 6 0 Brandy, 6 4 2 Gin, 3 3 0 Milk, 21 20 1 Port Wine, 1 1 0 Rum, 2 2 0 Whisky, 4 ... ... ONCHO☺☺ 0 ... ...Many other samples were examined for the public, mostly at the low fee prescribed by the Ordinance.
MINERALOGICAL.
6. Coincidently with the recent rise in the value of tin, a much larger amount of the refined metal was shipped than in recent years. The ores and minerals sent in were of a varied kind and required valuation for the content of tin, antimony, asbestos, mercury, salt, manganese, lead, graphite, sulphur, gold, and silver, respectively.