M (1) 42
MISCELLANEOUS,--Continued.
Green leaves, 1 0 Soil, 1 0 Slime, (filter bed slime) 2 0 Transformer oil, 1 0 Purico, 1 0 Lumber, 3 0 Silica threads, 1 0 Total, 2,733 2,213TOXICOLOGICAL,
Among the investigations carried out during the year were 93 cases of suspected human poisoning.
The following Table shows the results of these:-
No Poison found, 38 Cases. Opium found, 36 Animal toxins (ptomains) found, 1 Formalin found, 4 Carbolic acid found, 3 Opium and oil of peppermint found, 1 Alcohol found, 4 Chloral hydrate found, "" Alkali found, 1 Datura alba found, "" Iodine, phenol & camphor found, 1 Kerosene found, +1 Veronal found, 2 Unfinished on Dec. 31st, 19 Total, 98 Cases.A bottle of liquid submitted by the Police, the contents of which were supposed to have caused the death of a suicide, proved to be acetic acid of 44.0% strength. Some white crystals found on the person of a Chinese woman who had attempted suicide was found upon analysis to be oxalic acid, which is a very toxic substance.
In 1926, four cases of poisoning by carbolic acid occurred and in my last Report I suggested that should this tend to increase, the question of more stringent control of the sale of carbolic acid disinfectants might have to be considered. Four cases were investigated during the present year and as this represents no increase on 1926 the matter may be left as it is for the time being.