M 76
296. All the poison cases investigated were the result of suicide, no case of murder by poison occurring during the year.
297. The consumption of Kai Po Yu, a poisonous fish, was the cause of three deaths as well as serious symptoms in several other cases. Much work was done in trying to isolate the poisonous principle, but again without success.
298. The herb, Gelsemium elegans Benth, was again used for suicide in the year under review on three occasions, each with fatal results. Work is being carried out at present to separate the alkaloids in a pure condition.
A
299. An unusual case of poisoning occurred, happily without fatal results. A patient was admitted into hospital after partaking of peanut oil. This oil on examination was found to contain hydrocyanic acid and further samples from the shop where the oil was purchased were also found to contain the poison. The acid was in a combined state and it is probable that a cyanogenetic glycoside was present, due either to admixture with another oil, or to the presence of foreign seeds in the original peanuts from which the oil was made.
300. Concentrated nitric acid was used for suicidal purposes in one case, with terrible effects on the internal organs.
301. A small child drank a solution of sodium silicate, "water glass", and died some days afterwards. The stomach walls were very much corroded.
FOOD AND DRUGS.
Substance No. of samples examined No. found genuine No. found adulterated Boracic acid 14 13 1 Butter, fresh 21 21 0 tinned 2 2 0 Cheese 18 18 0 Coffee 31 31 0 Milk, condensed 55 55 0 dried full-cream 6 5 1 evaporated 17 17 0 fresh 190 187 3 reconstituted 3 3 0 Pea-nut oil 17 17 0 Tea 57 47 10 Total 431 416 15Table LX.