M 67
A body was received at the Kwong Wah Hospital from a Sampan. The stomach and a specimen of blood from the thorax were submitted to the Laboratory. No poison was found in the stomach but an examination of the "blood" showed that it was not normal pleural fluid but a mixture of blood and sea water.
One sample of blood submitted was supposed, from its bright red colour, to indicate poisoning by carbon monoxide. Spectroscopic examination showed the colour to be due to nitroxyhaemoglobin, not carboxaemoglobin. Nitroxyhaemoglobin is a substance which is occasionally found in normal decomposing bodies and has been known in the past to mislead toxicological investigators, who have reported it as the carboxy-compound.
As in previous years, by far the most common poison found has been opium. The method for the rapid determination of opium in stomach contents worked out in this Laboratory and published in the "Analyst", January 1927, was used in many of these cases and gave very good results.
A sample of ginger tea was submitted, the addition of poison having been suspected. Investigation showed that soap had been added, probably with intent to annoy. No poison or other deleterious substance was present.
A bottle containing liquid was sent in by the Police. Some of the liquid had been swallowed by a Chinese girl in an attempt at suicide. The liquid proved to be caustic soda solution of 22.4% strength.
Mineralogical.
The following Table shows the nature of the 147 samples of metals and ores examined :-
Metals 1928 1927 Ores. 1928 1927 Tin 77 21 Wolfram... 27 30 Antimony 64 Manganese 2 Bismuth. 17 12 Antimony Gold 1 Lead Tin Dust Totals.... 79 66 Totals...... 68 73