Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 370

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Enclosure 3.

Report of the Government Analyst.

CIVIL HOSPITAL,

HONGKONG, 29th May, 1891.

SIR, I have the honour to submit a statement of the work done in the temporary laboratory of this Hospital during the year 1890. I also include statistics of the work in the Hospital Pharmacy during the same period, together with some observations on the increase of work in this section during the past ten years.

2. The subjects may be usefully dealt with under the following headings, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Remarks.

LABORATORY.

3. Toxicological.-There have been no analyses during 1890 in connection with cases of criminal poisoning.

4. Milk.--One sample of milk was analysed at the request of the Superintendent of the Civil Hospital. No analyses of food were made for the Sanitary Authorities.

5. Water. Two specimens of well water were analysed in April and November; one of these was referred to in a special report to Government by Mr. CHADWICK, on the water supply of the Kowloon peninsula.

6. Alcoholic Liquors.-A specimen of Brandy, sold in the Colony at 25 cents a bottle, was examined at the request of the Harbour Master. It was just within the legal limit as regards admixture with water, the alcoholic strength being 24 degrees under proof.

7. I have devoted a considerable amount of time to the study of the alcoholic liquors in this Colony. It is I believe a generally accepted notion, that the various liquors sold in the taverns and shops usually frequented by sailors and soldiers, are not only unwholesome but positively dangerous; such terms as "firewater" and "poison" are freely applied to these liquors. I may here point out that so far no evidence has been forthcoming to support this theory. This being the case, is it un- reasonable to suppose that the ill effects observed after drinking these cheap liquors may be attributed to the quantity, rather than the quality of the spirit consumed? From the observations I have seen in the Colonial Press, I gather that the Analyst to the Straits Government, has expressed a similar opinion with regard to the liquors sold in Singapore. Perhaps the greatest evil next to the reck- lessness displayed by sailors and soldiers when on leave, is the facility afforded in the absence of a spirit duty for a man to get drunk for such a low figure as 20 cents. It is perhaps worth considering whether or not this could be remedied to some useful extent by increasing the fee charged for a grocer's licence under section 28 of Ordinance 21 of 1886. There is one consideration which ought not to be overlooked, viz.-the probability that the consumer in many instances is served with a raw instead of a matured spirit. It is to be regretted that on this point analytical chemistry is unable to throw much light, although scientific evidence is not necessary to demonstrate the superiority of old to new wine. If this evil should be found to exist, the only practical remedy would be, the compul- sory bonding of spirits for a certain period. A Committee of the House of Commons, under the

presi- dency of Dr. LYON PLAYFAIR, has lately had under consideration, among other things, the question of the compulsory bonding of spirits. Many of the leading experts in the United Kingdom have been examined and it is not improbable, that the results of the labours of this Committee will be found to have an important bearing on many points affecting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors in this Colony.

PHARMACY.

8. Out-Patients. From the following table shewing the number of prescriptions, exclusive of repetitions, dispensed for out-patients, it will be seen that in this section, the year 1890 has been the heaviest during the past ten years.

1880,

1881,

697 761

1882,

910

1883,

.1399

1884.

..1719

1885,

2441 New prescriptions.

1886,

..2386

1887,

.2410

1888,

.3009

1889,

..3103

1890,

.3731 J