X1000306-1960-61_Part01 — Page 38

TABLE 34-Contdų

Deaths due to natural causes Deaths due to unnatural causes

Male Females Unknown

457

Victoria

991

Kowloon 2,159

278

{

238

1,620

433

995

1

Race [

Chinese

1,261

2,606

Non-Chinese

TO

10

Age groups

Over 60 years

247

301

45 - 59 years

303

456

30-44 years

225

365

15-29 years

By

211

1-14 years

202

479

1 month - 1 year

118

431

Under 1 month

67

360

Age unknown

3

Sul births received

15

175

GOVERNMENT CHEMIST'S LABORATORY

264. This laboratory carries out a wide range of analytical and consultant work for Government Departments, for the Armed Services and for commercial and industrial concerns.

265. The work of the laboratory increased by seven per cent during the year compared to 1959, and is outlined in Table 35. During the year the major part of the work was concerned with biochemical analyses and with the examination of narcotics.

TABLE 35

WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST'S LABORATORY 1960

Samples Analysed

Biochemical ..

20,230

Narcotics Control

13,724

Duliable Commodities

7.145

Water & Waterworks Chemicals

701

Food & Drugs

353

Forensic

1,029

Toxicology

723

Dangerous Goods Regulations

230

Commercial

497

Import/Export (Prohibition) (Specified Articles) Orders Miscellaneous

11

553

Total

45,234

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266. The chemical examination of public water supplies is carried out as a routine, as are analyses of samples of food and drugs for adulteration. Apart from the close co-operation with the Police Depart- ment in narcotics control, a wide field of exhibits were examined in connexion with crimes ranging from acid-throwing and manslaughter by motor vehicle to counterfeiting. Of interest has been the use of paper chromatography for such diverse purposes as the identification of ink in a forgery case and the proof that certain discharged oil came from a particular ship.

267. Toxicological examinations were predominantly for cases of human poisonings, either accidental or suicidal, for homicidal poisoning is rare in Hong Kong. Only one accidental death from parathion poison- ing was seen during the year, as the import of this very dangerous organophosphorous insecticide is now prohibited. Suicide by poisoning is common, the much less toxic organophosphorous compound mala- thion being the most widely used, followed in frequency by barbiturates and cyanide.

268. Work in connexion with dutiable commodities was carried out for the Department of Commerce and Industry and the checking of standards of a wide variety of commodities was undertaken for the Government stores and for certain commercial firms. Analyses of alleged inflammable materials and other dangerous goods are carried out for the Department of Fire Services. In this connection an investiga- tion was undertaken into a tenement fire, followed by an explosion, in which seven people lost their lives, this was traced to the storage of organic blowing agents used in the manufacture of foam rubber and the storage and use of such agents have now been placed under control. 269. In the industrial health field, a survey was undertaken, in conjunction with other Departments concerned, into the occurrence of methane gas in wells in the Kwun Tong industrial area and experiments are continuing into methods of controlling this problem.

270. A native sulphide of arsenic, known locally as "Hung Wong". is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in powders for insulation into the mouth and pharynx. This is a formal contra- vention of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, but chemical analysis and subsequent animal feeding experiments have shown that 'Hung Wong' is not assimilated to any appreciable extent and that its administration, either internally or externally to the skin, produces no ill-effects. However, as an irritant powder when insufflated into the inflamed or infected throats of children it has given rise to unfortunate

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