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included cases of forged or altered documents, the examination of counterfeit gold, tear gases, exhibits from the scene of hit and run* accidents and material from explosions, acid throwing and arson. Over 500 specimens of drugs of various kinds were examined in connexion with infractions of the laws relating to the sale of poisons and to the possession of prohibited insecticides.

244. The toxicological work comprised mainly examinations of specimens sent from hospitals and mortuaries in connexion with accidental or suicidal poisonings. The pattern of substances taken for purposes of suicide did not differ significantly from previous years. insecticides being the commonest, followed by hypnotics, disinfectants, and cyanide.

245. Specimens of dangerous drugs examined were mostly seizures from pedlars but included a considerable number of exhibits from hervin manufacturing establishments raided by the Police. Heroin, barbitone and opium account for nearly all narcotics seizures in Hong Kong.

246. The volume and range of dutiable commodities examined for assessment or remission of duty were similar to those in previous years. There was a slight increase in the examinations of water and waterworks chemicals us a continuous check was maintained on the level of fluorida- tion of the public water supplies, samples being taken daily from each station at which fluoride is added. The regular examination of all domestic supplies continued throughout the year and a further survey of wells was made on Hong Kong Island.

247. The number of samples of food and drugs submitted for examination under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance showed a slight increase over the figures for the previous year. Particular attention has been paid to milk and to products containing preservatives. Although 22% of the milk samples submitted during the year were found to be adulterated, the extent of adulteration showed a significant decrease during the fatter six months of the year. The adulteration generally took the form of added water but in some cases evidence was obtained of reconstituted milk being sold as fresh milk.

248. A large number of samples were examined for the presence of preservatives, and both non-permitted preservatives and excessive con- centrations of permitted preservatives continue to be found in a number of locally-manufactured products.

249. During the previous two years, the examination of edible oils, and in particular sesame oil, has shown a high rate of adulteration with

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mineral oil, in some cases up to as much as 95%. As the result of legislation introduced during the year, this practice is now prohibited and oils examined during the last few months have shown a notable improvement in quality.

250. Work carried out for Government departments included the assessment of standards in connexion with tendering the subsequent deliveries and the examination of inflammable and other dangerous goods seized by the Fire Services Department. The number of com- mercial samples deal with showed a marked increase and covered a very wide field, including alloys, oils, chemicals, drugs. firecrackers. paints and textiles.

251. An argon vapour-phase chromatograph was acquired during the year and has proved useful in the examination of adulterated liquors and essential oils.

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY

252. The Governmem Institute of Pathology, situated on the upper floors of the Sai Ying Pun Polyclinic, undertakes the major part of the clinical pathology and all the public health laboratory work for Govern- ment 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. There is also a branch laboratory, in Caine Lane, for the manufacture of vaccine. The work of the Institute during the year is detailed at Appendix 15. The University Department of Pathology. carries out the routine clinical pathology for the Queen Mary Hospital. and a Virus Unit in that Department is staffed from the Institute but operates under the general supervision of the Professor of Pathology. 253. The Vaccine Section of the Institure continued to manufacture standard cholera vaccine of 8,000 organisms per millilitre, and main- tained a reserve of 2,000,000 ml. Over 3,000,000 ml. of the vaccine were used in the course of mass anti-cholera inoculation campaigns held during the year.

254. A systematic examination for V. cholerae in night soil from collecting vehicles was carried out throughout the year and stool speci- mens from cases of gastro-enteritis were investigated routinely for vibrios. In addition, the investigation of water from all sources and of other possible vehicles of infection such as fruits, vegetables, fish and shell fish for cholera organisms was continued throughout the year.

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