BUSY CHEMISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 55, 3 September 1934, Page 10

BUSY CHEMISTS

DOMINION LABORATORY

HELPS IN MANY WAYS

The extent to which chemistry is regularly called upon to assist tho Government in ways that aro seldom realised by the general public as being essential to tho adequate operation oi' its various departmental aetivitie. is clearly set out in the' section of the annual report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Bescarch which deals with the Dominion Laboratory.

'' Tho Dominion Laboratory, '' says the report, "has continued to perform the chemical investigations required by all Government Departments, except that of Agriculture. A good deal of the work is of a routine character, such as is required in the testing of materials purchased under specifications by various Departments,1 and for the enforcement of regulations. Phis routine work, however, often reveals certain major lines of investigation, and leads to research activities being undertaken.

"The wide range of problems brought to the laboratory renders it essential that each member of the staff, in addition to possessing qualifications in special directions, should co-operate with other members. The staffing and facilities of tho Dominion Laboratory, in view of this possibility of co-ordina-tion, are in a position to render a very complete chemical service for Government requirements. "The Health Department makes the greatest use of the laboratory in connection with tho administration of the Food.and Drugs Act, some three thousand examinations of : foodstuffs and drinks being niado during the year. The influence of this continuous supervision of the composition of foodstuffs exerts, a marked influence upon the; quality of all materials offered for sale in" the Dominion. Improvements in quality are most marked in the case of milk, some 7500 samples of which were examined during the year. The quality of the milk now sold in the Dominion may be very advantageously contrasted with that which prevailed prioV to the ■ enforcement of the Sale of Food and Druga Act. Tests made of enamelware imported revealed that certain types of .this material were sufficiently dofective in quality to adversely affect' the health of users, and therefore the manufacturers had been notified, accordingly Drinking-water supplies have been subjected to close supervision, as the risks from streampollution continue steadily to increase from year to year." ' SAMPLES FOB AHALYSIS. The number of samples for analysis received in Wellington during the year from Departments and their branches were:—Customs, 231; Police, 98; Geological Survey, 129; Main Highways Board, 172; Mines, 639; Health, 3279; Post and Telegraph, 55; Research, 87; Public Works, 81; Railways, 46; Stores Control, 18; Agriculture, 45; Defence, 17; Prisons, 20; Government Printer, 65; External Affairs, 39; other Departments, 47. In addition to these, 43 samples were received from municipal and other public bodies and 234 from miscellaneous sources, making n total of 5345. The totals for the branch laboratories ■ were: ■■ Auckland, 2647; Christchurcli, 2568; Duuedin, 1665. The majority of tho, analyses made for the Customs Department were for use for tariff. . purposes. Several samples, sucji as cream of tartar, flour, malt extract,, malt and cod-liyer oil, and iodised salt were examined to ascertain if they complied with the regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs' Act. Through the examination of materials for all Government purchasing Departments, .the quality of these has been kept up to standard, and considerable savings' must necessarily result therefrom. ; The gas supplies of the main towns have been under constant inspection for calorific value, purity, and pressure,' tind this has shown that all were of satisfactory quality. DETECTION OF CRIME. For- the Police Department'no fewer than 651 samples wt>re analysed during the year' and, says the report, there has been an- increasing demand from this Department for work connected with the detection of crime. Numerous' beers were analysed in connection with .sly-grog charges and samples of liquor, etc., in cases concerning the illegal manufacture of whisky. Many exhibits were examined in connection with cases of suspected poisoning. - The following poisons were found,in various instances: Strychnine, zinc, vcronal, aconite, luminal, prussie acid, .mercuric chloride, carbolic acid, carbon monoxide, arsenic, and lysol. Several analyses wore made of counterfeit coins and of materials for .their manufacture. A number of medicinal preparations used for illegal purposes were examined and also suspected opium. Many samples wero analysed in.connection with the purchase of Government stores by the Public Works, Post and Telegraph, Stores Control, and other Government Departments. These include paints, galvanised-iron, lubricating and fuel oils, soap, shellac, rope, brenze, special materials for use in hydro-electric plants, and numerous other supplies. Several investigations were made of cases of corrosion.

• The revival in mining.has led to increased demands upon the assaying work of the laboratory. ■• Gold-saving devices have been tested, while problems concerning mine-ventilation *have continued to receive attention. Fol-: lowing the coal-briquetting investigations conducted a few years ago by the laboratory, one cominercin plant' for dealing with slack coal has. now commenced operations. Definite research work has boon undertaken upon the incidence of goitre, production of low-temperature tar, fruit-tree sprays, pyrethrum, and rag*wort, and kauri gum. The manufacture) of sodium chlorate has also been the subject, of investigation, while considerable'headway has been made towards the determination of the ehemioat constitution."of the active principle involved in ragwort poisoning.