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fortnight and taxed the facilities of the Laboratory to the utmost as the results were required within a week of the closing of the tender period. Platinum apparatus was loaned to us by the Taikoo Sugar Refinery; without this help the work could not have been completed in time.
In connection with Government coal supplies it is to be reported again that every consignment of coal to the Harbour and Public Works Departments was sampled and the samples analysed here, in order to arrive at the price to be paid to the contractor,
WATER SUPPLIES.
Of the 959 samples examined during the year, 228 were taken from the various filter beds, 562 were from house taps in various parts of the Colony, and 12 were from the Y.M.C.A. Swimming Bath in Kowloon. The decrease in number of tap samples, 562 as against 1,108, was due to the decrease in available staff here during the summer, consequent on the
death of Mr. E. R. Dovey and the absence in hospital of one of the assistant Government Analysts. During these month: all but the samples from filter beds had to be cut out.
No complaints as to chemical impurities in the Hong Kong waters were received during the year.
BIOCHEMICAL. WORKS.
The following list gives the nature of work done under this head :-
Blood for presence of sea water
1932.
1
1931.
0
Blood for blood sugar
68
42
Blood for blood urea nitrogen...
78
76
Ascitic fluid for chloride content
12
24
Urine
11
17
Stools
14
Other samples
0
22
Total
.184
181
183
Practically the whole of the biochemical work done here is sent in from two sources, the Professor of Medicine at the University and the M.O. i/c G.C.H. There would appear to be reason to think that the amount of work of this nature will, in years to come, largely increase as more use is made of results obtained by chemical examination of body fluids etc. If this is so it will become a whole time task for one analyst in a Laboratory, centrally situated as regards the various hospitals.
GENERAL WORK, RESEARCH AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS.
and
Shortage of staff for 5 months during the summer increased commercial work meant that very little time Was available for research work. A new method for estimation of sulphur in organic compounds, published in the Journal of the Chemical Society, was tried with fuel oil, and found, with modifications, to be very satisfactory. This was a great help, as the method previously in use was lengthy and costly owing to damage caused to silica ware in which the operation had to be performed.
Several special investigations were carried out, one in connection with the corrosion of H. K. telephone cables, and another in connection with corrosion of mechanical parts of the installation at one of the filter beds
Investigations were also made into the nature of the dust deposited in various parts of Kowloon and the monthly tests on the Davis Escape Apparatus were carried on until the Autumn.
It is to be recorded that more use has been made of this Department by other Government departments, not only with regard to coal analyses but also in connection with chemical investigations. Many commodities bought on contract by other departments have Government specifications depending entirely on tests which can only be carried out in this Department, e.g. Gils. During the year 1931 more samples of these were sub- mitted for test before being purchased
At the end of the year an investigation was carried out for the Roads Department, P. W. D., in order to ascertain whether it would be possible to colour petrol, issued to Government lorries, so that unauthorised use of this petrol could be detected The best concentration of a suitable dye was found and a trial is to be made during the early part of 1933.
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