H.—34.

Several bottles of toilet preparations on retail sale were analysed, and it was found that valueless material had been substituted for the original content. In a case involving a charge of murder, the investigation of which was commenced during the previous year, a box containing twenty-five chocolates was forwarded by post, and examination proved that about half of these had been carefully charged with strychnine, the amount per chocolate varying from I gr. to J gr. The victim, an adult, died within an hour, and approximately A gr. of strychnine was recovered from portions of the body. The case is remarkable in that the fatal dose was probably not more than -|- gr. to | gr. of strychnine. Dunedin. —The year was remarkable for the very large amount of work received from the police, much of it being of a difficult and time-consuming nature. Potassium cyanide was detected in one case of poisoning, and in another, phenobarbitone. In a murder case, which involved an exhumation and the examination of a large number of specimens, barbitone was found in the body materials and in certain other specimens. Many samples were examined in connection with breaking-and-entering cases. Opium and other drugs seized by the police at an opium-den were examined, and also liquorsamples taken in connection with " sly-grog " cases. Strychnine was found in two samples of chaff which, had caused fatal poisoning of horses. In a case of fatal bacterial food-poisoning, arsenic was found in quantities considerably greater than would be expected under normal circumstances, but much smaller than is usual in fatal arsenical poisoning. This rendered necessary the analysis of a large number of specimens of material from the home of the deceased, without a conclusive result. An extended investigation is being carried out with the object of ascertaining the amounts of arsenic which may be considered as normal in various organs of the body. In an inquiry regarding an accidental death, sufficient alcohol was found in the urine to indicate that the deceased was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Department of Health. Samples of milk, numbering 8,681, were examined at the main Laboratory and the three branches. This is an increase of 860 on the previous year's figures. Milk. —Wellington : Of 1,886 samples submitted from Wellington City and suburbs, 14 were deficient in fat. 2 were deficient in solids other than fat, 3 contained added water, 14 were stale, and 1 contained excessive dirt. The percentage of samples not complying is very small, and the record is equally as good as in the previous two years. It is again satisfactory to note that Wellington milksupply maintains its high standard, both in regard to its nutritive value and cleanliness. From the country districts, which include Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington Province (except Wellington City), Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, and Gisborne, 914 samples were examined. Of these, 3 were deficient in fat, 8 contained added water, 2 contained excessive dirt. Auckland : Of 2,320 samples from Auckland City and suburbs, 21 contained added water, 18 were seriously deficient in fat, 4 contained appreciable amounts of visible dirt, and 35 were stale (as shown by the reductase test). Of 29 other samples, 18 were slightly deficient in fat, 8 were below the standard for solids other than fat but did not contain added water, and 3 were somewhat stale. As a result of prosecutions during the previous year, the number of samples containing visible dirt and of those below the standard in solids other than fat was considerably reduced. As regards the number of samples containing added water, those of low-fat content, and those which were stale, there is no improvement as compared with the previous year. During the year reductase tests have been continued on milk-samples at Hamilton, and tests have also been made at Whangarei. The results were satisfactory. The newly introduced phosphatase test for the detection of effective pasteurization was investigated, and was found to give definite and reliable information. It is now used as a routine test and will be of great value in the control of pasteurized milk. Christchurch : The number of samples examined was 2,103, of which 1,359 were from Christchurch City and suburbs, the remainder being from the provincial districts of Canterbury and Westland. Christchurch City and Suburbs : Of the 1,359 samples from this area, 18 contained added water, 45 were slightly deficient in solids other than fat, 16 deficient in fat, and 14 were stale (as shown by reductase tests). The percentage not complying with the regulation was 6-8, compared with 7-2 for 1934. This includes 45 samples, out of the total of 1,359, which were slightly below the standard in solids other than fat, but did not contain added water. A special investigation of these low-testing milks has been commenced. As stressed in the previous annual report, the legal standard is a very reasonable one and readily attained, as shown by records of the average composition of milk sold over a long period of years. There is the additional consideration that from the consumers' point of view it matters little whether poor-quality milk is naturally so or has been made so by the addition of water. With regard to the reductase test the legal standard is at present three hours, but investigation over a number of years shows that this could be raised to five hours. The percentage of samples during 1935 which reduced the methylene-blue in less than three hours was only 3-6. This indicates that as regards freedom from bacterial contamination the condition of Christchurch milk-supply is most satisfactory. Outside Districts : The number of samples examined was 744, of which 517 were from Canterbury and 227 from the West Coast Districts. Of these, 25 were slightly deficient in solids other than fat, and 13 were deficient in fat. Eeductase tests were made of samples from several outside towns, including Timaru, and the results showed that these were satisfactory from a bacterial standpoint.

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