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380. The determinations of dutiable commodities for the assessment of duty covered much the same range as in previous years. A change in the duty on light oils resulted in a drop in this type of work.

381. The examinations of water and water-works chemicals were almost trebled largely due to the routine checks of fluoridation of the public water supplies. Regular monthly analyses from the water treat- ment plants continued and in addition samples from 209 wells were examined, of which 67 were found to be potable supplies. The presence of sulphate producing bacteria in sea water samples, taken in the vicinity of the runway at Kai Tak, may explain the corrosion of the cooling systems of diesel engines used in that area.

382. Food and drugs examinations greatly increased, mainly due to a three-fold increase in food specimens sent in by the Health Inspec- torate following on the promulgation of the new Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance. The main emphasis was on the detection of adulterated milk and a number of successful prosecutions resulted. Although water was the main adulterant, the addition of reconstituted milk to fresh milk is becoming more common, particularly during the months when fresh milk is in short supply. The adulteration of sesame oil is common and some samples analysed contained up to 95% of mineral oil; soybean and coconut oil are other adulterants used. The addition of preservatives to foodstuffs is on the increase and most haphazard variations were encountered. This suggests that certain manu- facturers are not aware of either the correct amount of preservative required by law or of the proper techniques and this aspect is receiving close attention. There was an increase in the number of proprietary medicines analysed, particularly those containing vitamins; in general these proprietary preparations were found to be of high standard.

383. The toxicology and forensic chemistry work increased by some 15% and laboratory staff gave expert evidence in Court on over 120 occasions. In this field, officers of the laboratory also gave a series of lectures to the Criminal Investigation Department inspectorate on the work of the laboratory and the assistance that can be given in the course of police investigations. Toxicology investigations included regular checks on vegetables coming into the markets for traces of dangerous insecticides. During the cholera outbreak the laboratory staff gave valu- able advice on the use of disinfectants for washing vegetables coming in from cholera infected areas.

384. Work carried out for Government departments included the assessment of standards in connexion with tendering and subsequent

deliveries, the examination of inflammable and other dangerous goods seized by the Fire Services Department and an extensive survey of explosive gases in the subsoil of the Kwun Tong Reclamation. Recom- mendations were made as to how the danger of gases in well shafts and other excavations could be dealt with safely. Analytical work was also carried out for a number of commercial and industrial concerns in the Colony.

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY

385. The Institute, situated in the upper floors of the Sui Ying P'un Polyclinic, undertakes the major part of the clinical pathology and all the public health laboratory work for Government in the Colony and for some of the grant-aided hospitals. There is a major branch of the Institute in the Kowloon Hospital and small clinical laboratories are maintained at the Lai Chi Kok and Castle Peak Hospitals. The University Department of Pathology now carries out the routine clinical pathology at the Queen Mary Hospital and a Virus Unit in that Depart- ment is staffed from the Institute but works under the general super- vision of the Professor of Pathology. There is a branch vaccine manu- facturing laboratory in Caine Lane. During 1961 the volume of work again increased by over 12% and the detail is set out in Appendix 15. 386. During the cholera outbreak in August and September, a very heavy additional load was thrown on the Institute. A twenty-four hour cholera diagnostic service was established both at Sai Ying Pun and at the Kowloon Hospital branch, all cases of gastro-enteritis or suspected cholera being fully investigated for vibrios. In addition, as a routine, water samples from wells, small boats and other unprotected public supplics were examined. Possible vehicles of infection such as fruit, vegetables, fish and shellfish were also investigated. The very large number of rectal swabs from cases of cholera, their contacts and contact carriers was in itself a very heavy commitment. In addition the vaccine laboratory went over to the production of cholera vaccine on a 24-hour basis and 1,762,180 mls. of vaccine were manufactured between the 12th August and the 13th of September. As all staff had to be mobilized for primarily cholera duties the result was that much of the routine work had to be curtailed or suspended during a period of two months.

Virus Laboratory

387. The Virus Laboratory is equipped mainly for diagnostic and survey work in connexion with entero-viruses. Three faccal surveys were carried out during the year at different periods to demonstrate

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