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105
Cause of Illness—
1 sample of Pickles, said to have caused illness, was free from
deleterious ingredients or impurities.
Other Samples—
1 sample of Surgical Spirit consisted of methylated spirit (92 per
cent, alcohol by volume) containing 5 per cent. of castor oil. Half a pint
of the spirit contained a medicinal dose of castor oil. There has been
much drinking of this spirit by certain enthusiasts. The methylated
spirit is purer than the dyed variety and the castor oil may be separated
roughly by adding water or milk and skimming off the oil.
1 sample of "Sylvite" consisted of a mixture of yellow mercuric
oxide in excess to which weak nitric acid solution had been added. The
two-ounce bottle contained 24 grains of mercuric nitrate in solution; the
liquid was therefore highly poisonous. The bottle was not labelled.
Mercuric nitrate is not included in the list of scheduled poisons under the
old Act. This list is now in process of revision under the new Pharmacy
and Poisons Act, 1933.
Rag Flock Act.—According to the standard of cleanliness required by the
Rag Flock Regulations, rag flock must not contain more than 30 parts of
chlorine in 100,000 parts of the flock. One informal sample was satisfactory
the chlorine content being less than 5 parts per 100,000.
Borough Engineer.—-11 samples comprised: Carbolic Powder (4), Cold
Bitumen (4), and Bathing Pool Water (3).
Public Cleansing Officer.—2 samples of Carbolic Powder examined were
unsatisfactory; a further 3 samples of Carbolic Powder under a new contract
were satisfactory.
Private Samples.—1 sample of Sterilised Milk (contained a small quantity
of paraffin) and 1 sample of Aluminium Sulphate were analysed for private
purchasers.
I desire again to express my appreciation of the able assistance given me
in the laboratory by Mr. W. M. Paulley, B.A., F.I.C.
I have the honour to be,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
DOUGLAS HENVILLE,
Borough Analyst.
Chemical Laboratory,
43, White Horse Street, E.l.
April, 1935.