LABORATORY,
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, 21st January, 1882.
SIR, I have the honour to submit the following Report of Analytical work performed during 1881.
Fifty-seven analyses were made, five of which were researches for poison in cases of suspected poisoning, the remaining fifty-two being quantitative analyses of water, milk, wine, spirits, and drugs.
Of the twelve samples of milk examined, eight were adulterated with water, and in one case as much as 51 per cent. had been added. This adulteration is a serious matter deserving the attention of the Government. Not merely is the consumer defrauded, but there is also the danger of impure water being used as the diluent and thus probably disseminating disease.
A table shewing the results obtained in the monthly analyses of the Pokfulam water is given below. All the samples were collected from a tap in direct connection with the main in which the supply of water is continuous. Each month the water was found turbid, such turbidity at times being excessive. It will be observed that in April there was a sudden increase in the Nitrogenous organic matter indicated by the greater yield of Albuminoid Ammonia. This continued with slight variations until December, when it again suddenly decreased. The rise corresponded with the beginning of the rains and increase of temperature, the fall with the decrease of temperature and rain. There was a decided increase of Chlorine in October, caused doubtless by the typhoon of the 14th of that month blowing spray from the sea inland.
In addition to the monthly analyses of the Pokfulam water, a few samples from other sources were examined and specially reported on in four instances. As might be anticipated, when the geological formation, the general configuration, and the barren condition of the upland portion of the island are taken into consideration, the water in the streams is of excellent quality. At the same time, it should be efficiently filtered before it is used for potable purposes, because as a rule there is present in suspension a considerable amount of very finely divided mineral matter, which, putting on one side the disagreeable idea of drinking it, might prove injurious to health by mere mechanical irritation. The storage of the water in open reservoirs and trusting to subsidence as a means of getting rid of the suspended matter, ultimately increases the evil. Such a method may for a time be of some benefit, but in dry weather the reservoir acts as a collector of debris, which debris becomes stirred up and diffused throughout the whole mass of the water by every heavy rain that occurs.
It is hardly necessary to remark that the lower portion of those streams in which the public washermen ply their calling is of a very different character. The condition of the water in the wells of the city has not yet been ascertained. It is however to be feared judging from their positions, that not a few such waters are quite unfit for dietetic use.
Some surprise was expressed at the result of the analysis of a sample of water from the lower portion of one of the streams, where pollution was evidently taking place and apparently to a considerable extent. A careful examination shewed, however, that although a number of black, filthy, stinking, gutters, from piggeries and middens led directly into the stream yet a comparatively small quantity of this sewage matter passed into it, there being no actual flow but simply a slight oozing. The whole probably not exceeding a gallon a day, whereas the flow of water in the stream in the same period would amount to some thousands of gallons. The condition of the stream also was most favourable to the self purification of the water, viz.—a rough bed, rapid flow, with a comparative high temperature and in some places a semi-filtration owing to a partially underground current. Nevertheless, there can be little doubt that with every shower of rain the state of the stream in question is such as to render it unsuitable for potable purposes. Even in ordinary times without efficient filtration, it is not a desirable drinking water. Although some of our best water supplies in England have received the sewage of towns containing thousands of inhabitants in addition to that of villages, private residences, and manufactories, yet there can only be one opinion but that, where obtainable water, which has never been contaminated with sewage is by far the best for dietetic purposes. Drinking water, like Cæsar's wife, should be above suspicion.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
Dr. PH. B. C. AYRES,
Colonial Surgeon, &c.
HUGH MCCALLUM, Analyst.
LABORATORY,
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,
HONGKONG, 21st January, 1882.
SIR, I have the honour to submit the following Report of Analytical work performed during 1881.
Fifty-seven analyses were made, five of which were researches for poison in cases of suspected poisoning, the remaining fifty-two being quantitative analyses of water, milk, wine, spirits, and drugs.
Of the twelve samples of milk examined, eight were adulterated with water, and in one case as much as 51 per cent. had been added. This adulteration is a serious matter deserving the attention of the Government. Not merely is the consumer defrauded, but there is also the danger of impure water being used as the diluent and thus probably disseminating disease.
A table shewing the results obtained in the monthly analyses of the Pokfulam water is given below. All the samples were collected from a tap in direct connection with the main in which the supply of water is continuous. Each month the water was found turbid, such turbidity at times being excessive. It will be observed that in April there was a sudden increase in the Nitrogenous organic matter indicated by the greater yield of Albuminoid Ammonia. This continued with slight variations until December, when it again suddenly decreased. The rise corresponded with the beginning of the rains and increase of temperature, the fall with the decrease of temperature and rain. There was a decided increase of Chlorine in October, caused doubtless by the typhoon of the 14th of that month blowing spray from the sea inland.
In addition to the monthly analyses of the Pokfulam water, a few samples from other sources were examined and specially reported on in four instances. As might be anticipated, when the geolo- gical formation, the general configuration, and the barren condition of the upland portion of the island are taken into consideration, the water in the streams is of excellent quality. At the same time, it should be efficiently filtered before it is used for potable purposes, because as a rule there is present in suspension a considerable amount of very finely divided mineral matter, which, putting on one side the disagreeable idea of drinking it, might prove injurious to health by mere mechanical irritation. The storage of the water in open reservoirs and trusting to subsidence as a means of getting rid of the suspended matter, ultimately increases the evil. Such a method may for a time be of some benefit, but in dry weather the reservoir acts as a collector of debris, which debris becomes stirred up and diffused throughout the whole mass of the water by every heavy rain that occurs.
It is hardly necessary to remark that the lower portion of those streams in which the public washermen ply their calling is of a very different character. The condition of the water in the wells of the city has not yet been ascertained. It is however to be feared judging from their positions, that not a few such waters are quite unfit for dietetic use.
Some surprise was expressed at the result of the analysis of a sample of water from the lower portion of one of the streams, where pollution was evidently taking place and apparently to a consider- able extent. A careful examination shewed, however, that although a number of black, filthy, stinking, gutters, from piggeries and middens led directly into the stream yet a comparatively small quantity of this sewage matter passed into it, there being no actual flow but simply a slight oozing. The whole probably not exceeding a gallon a day, whereas the flow of water in the stream in the same period would amount to some thousands of gallons. The condition of the stream also was most favourable to the self purification of the water, viz.-a rough bed, rapid flow, with a comparative high temperature and in some places a semi-filtration owing to a partially underground current. Nevertheless, there can be little doubt that with every shower of rain the state of the stream in question is such as to render it unsuitable for potable purposes. Even in ordinary times without efficient filtration, it is not a desirable drinking water. Although some of our best water supplies in England have received the sewage of towns containing thousands of inhabitants in addition to that of villages, private residences, and manufactories, yet there can only be one opinion but that, where obtainable water, which has never been contaminated with sewage is by far the best for dietetic purposes. Drinking water, like Cæsar's wife, should be above suspicion.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
Dr. PH. B. C. AYRES,
Colonial Surgeon, &c.
HUGH MCCALLUM, Analyst.
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