powder, mixed with sand and moistened with petroleum. A partial proximate analysis showed the presence of petroleum, fixed oil, a resinous substance, vegetable matter insoluble in 84 per cent. alcohol, and sand. Experiments on fish showed the resinous substance to be the principal toxic agent. Further examination of this resinous matter proved it to be closely allied to, if not identical with the glucoside called saponin. This knowledge of the substance could not be considered satisfactory, and inquiries were instituted for the purpose of ascertaining what vegetable substances were generally used by the Chinese for poisoning fish. Mr. ORLEY, Inspector of Markets, succeeded in procuring two substances called by the Chinese Cha-tsai Fan (A) and Cha-tsai Peng (B) stating he had been informed they were used conjointly when mixed with oil as a fish poison. The ordinary purpose for which the former is used is to remove greasy stains, and for washing things generally, the latter as a hair wash. On examination both appeared to be the same thing in different forms, and corresponded with the substance previously examined, which had been used as a fish poison.
fish poison. Further enquiries indicated that they were derived from the fruit of the Camellia Oleifera, a tree which closely resembles the tea tree, and is sometimes confounded with it. Mr. FORD very kindly procured and gave me some of the fruit of this tree. The seeds yielded a large percentage of a fixed oil, and also contained a substance giving most of the reactions of saponin, but differing from it in some points. These differences may be due to slight impurity, or the substance may be distinct from saponin, although very similar to it.
8. It would thus seem to be satisfactorily proved that Cha-tsai Fan was the material used in the case of the malicious poisoning of fish, that the active principal thereof is either saponin or a very closely allied substance, that it is derived from the seeds of the Camellia Oleifera, and that the method of production is first to remove the oil from the seeds by pressure, and then to reduce the cake so obtained to a fine powder. Saponin or closely related substances have been found in many plants of different orders, but this appears to be the first time it has been recorded as occurring in the Camelliaceae.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
Dr. PH. B. C. AYRES,
Colonial Surgeon.
Hugh McCALLUM, Analyst.
MONTHLY ANALYSES OF POKFULAM WATER FOR 1882.
MONTH Smell when heated to 100° Fahr. Phosphoric Acid in 100° Fahr. Phosphates. PARTS PER MILLION. GRAINS PER GALLON. Degree of Hardness. Free Albuminoid Ammonia. Ammonia. Chlorine in Chlorides, Oxygen absorbed in four hours Total solid matter Wauklyn's dried at 80° Fahr. Scale. at 212° Fahr. January, None 0.00 0.064 0.9 0.0270 3.1 1.4 February, Faint 0.00 0.050 0.9 0.0280 3.5 1.6 March, Very faint 0.01 0.004 0.9 0.0315 8.3 1.4 April, 0.008 0.072 0.9 0.0350 3.3 1.1 27 May, 0.006 0.104 0.7 0.0770 4.7 1.2 27 June, None 0.008 0.088 0.6 0.0700 4.1 1.2 July, 0.008 0.092 0.6 0.0910 3.7 1.2 " August, 0.006 0.076 0.6 0.0665 3.4 1.4 27 " September, 0.006 0.060 0.6 0.0700 3.2 1.2 22 >> October, 0.00 0.062 0.7 0.0315 3.2 1.2 29 November, Slight trace 0.00 0.046 0.7 0.0315 3.1 1.4 December, Faint None 0.00 0.048 0.7 0.0245 3.1 1.2 Collected in June 1882, None 0.006 0.020 0.6 0.0175 3.9 2.6 and well filtered,...Laboratory, 15th February, 1883.
Government Civil Hospital.
Hugh McCALLUM,
Analyst.
powder, mixed with sand and moistened with petroleum. A partial proximate analysis showed the presence of petroleum, fixed oil, a resinous substance, vegetable matter insoluble in 84 per cent. alcohol, and sand. Experiments on fish showed the resinous substance to be the principal toxic agent. Further examination of this resinous matter proved it to be closely allied to, if not identical with the glucoside called saponin. This knowledge of the substance could not be considered satisfactory, and inquiries were instituted for the purpose of ascertaining what vegetable substances were generally used by the Chinese for poisoning fish. Mr. ORLEY, Inspector of Markets, succeeded in procuring two substances called by the Chinese Cha-tsai Fan (A) and Cha-tsai Peng (1) stating he had been informed they were used conjointly when mixed with oil as a fish poison. The ordinary purpose for which the foriner is used is to remove greasy stains, and for washing things generally, the latter as a hair wash. On examination both appeared to be the same thing in different forms, and cor- responded with the substance previously examined, which had been used as a fish poison.
fish poison. Further enquiries indicated that they were derived from the fruit of the Camellia Oleifera, a tree which closely resembles the tea tree, and is sometimes confounded with it. Mr. FORD very kindly procured and gave me some of the fruit of this tree. The seeds yielded a large percentage of a fixed oil, and also contained a substance giving most of the reactions of saponin, but differing from it in some points. These differences may be due to slight impurity, or the substance may be distinct from saponin, although very similar to it.
8. It would thus seem to be satisfactorily proved that Cha-tsai Fan was the material used in the case of the malicious poisoning of fish, that the active principal-thereof is either saponin or a very closely allied substance, that it is derived from the seeds of the Camellia Oleifera, and that the method of production is first to remove the oil from the seeds by pressure, and then to reduce the cake so... obtained to a fine powder. Saponin or closely related substances have been found in many plants of different orders, but this appears to be the first time it has been recorded as occurring in the. Camelliacea.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
!
Dr. PH. B. C. AYRES,
Colonial Surgeon.
Hron McCALLUM, Analyst.
MONTHLY ANALYSES OF POKFULAM WATER FOR 1882.
MONTH.
Smell when Phosphoric heated to Acid in 100° Fahr. Phosphates.
PARTS PER MILLION.
GRAINS PER GALLON.
Degree
of Hardness.
Free Abuminoi Ammonia. Ammonia.
Chlorine in Chlorides,
Oxygen absorbed in four hours
Total
solid matter Wauklyn's
dried at
Scale.
at 80° Fahr.
212° Fahr.
January,
February,
Murch,
None Faiut Very faint
None
0.00
0.064
0.9
0.0270
3.1
1.4
0.00
0.050
0.9
0,0280
3.5
1.6
}
0.01
0.004
0.9
0.0315
8.3
1.4
April,
0.008
0.072
0.9
0.0350
3.3
1.1
27
May,
0.006.
0.104
0.7
0.0770
4.7
1.2
27
June,
None
0.008
0.088
0.6
0.0700
4.1
1.2
July,
0.008
0.092
0.6
0.0910
3.7
1.2
"}
+
August,
0.006
0.076
0.6
0.0665
3.4
1.4
27
"
September,
0.006
0.060
0.6
0.0700
$.2
1.2
22
>>
October,
0.00
0.062
0.7
0.0315
3.2
1.2
29
November,
Slight trace
0.00
0.046
0.7
0.0315
3.1
1.4
December,
Faint
None
0.00
0.048
0.7
0.0245
3.1
1.2
Collected in June 1882,
None
0.006
0.020
0:6
0.0175
3.9
2.6
and well filtered,....
Laboratory, 15th February, 1883.
Government Civil Hospital.
Hogar MCCALLUM,
Analyst,.
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