RESEARCH WORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 62, 24 December 1935, Page 3

RESEARCH WORK.

DOMINION LABORATORY. (Special to the “Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. The annual report of the Dominion Laboratory, which has just been published, details the research work carried out during the year in the interests of public health safety, and knowledge. During the year work was done for various departments, a great deal of assistance being given to the Police Department in tracing poisons ancl materials destroyed by fire. , There was a considerable increase in research for police work during the year. 'ln addition to the testing of various exhibits for poisons in cases of suspected murder and suicide,. a very large number of diverse materials were examined in connection with criminal investigations. . Various members of the laboratory staff have been consulted from time to time by police officers in such cases, where their special knowledge might be of assistance. In Wellington strychnine was found in two poisoning cases, m one. carbon monoxide, and in another morphia. A number of exhibits were examined ioi habit-forming drugs. Several wines were examined for alcoholic strength and the nature of the materials employed in their manufacture. A number of samples of so-called “homebrew” were examined in connection with, sly-grog. prosecutions. Some counterfeit coins also were analysed. An investigation of considerable interest to the general public is described in the phragraph: “A belt sold at a very high price for the treatment of rheumatism consisted of flannel plus £oz. of sulphur.” Work for the Department of Health included the examination of milk samples. Of 1810 samples submitted from Wellington city, 13 were deficient in fat, 19 contained added water, and 12 were stale. Of the watered samples 16 were obtained from the one vendor, who was supplying shipping. With this exception, the record is equally as good as that of the previous year, when of 1667 samples 16 were deficient in fat, three contained added water, and four were stale. It is satisfactory to note that the milk supply of Wellington city still maintains its high standard of quality. From the country districts, which include Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington province (except Wellington city), Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, and Gisborne, 886 samples were examined. Of these, 14 were deficient in fat and 12 contained added watei*. Numerous prospectors’ samples were examined for the Mines Department and progress was made with the work on the utilisation, of New Zealand coal for making gas. Fuel, spray, soil, fruit, flax, and miscellaneous research work was also carried out.