23

H.—22

Following on a complaint from a local hospital that some noxious gas resulted from the use of a caliphont in the bathroom, an examination was made of the flue-gas. It contained 1 per cent, of carbon monoxide, and after fifteen minutes run the air in the centre of the room contained 0-15 per cent. This is three times greater than the highest allowable limit (0-05 per cent.) given by J. S. Haldane, who adds, further, "probably 0-03 per cent, would, in time produce symptoms distinctly felt on any exertion." It is therefore imperative that all caliphonts should be provided, with efficient flues, and that none of the waste gases be allowed to mingle with the air in the room. The flue in this case lacked sufficient draught. Milk. The number of milk-samples under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act totalled 2,099. This includes 120 obtained from suppliers, at farms or railway-stations, to check samples found to be poor in quality or abnormal in some respect. Wellington City. —The regular activity of tho City Council Milk Inspector was chiefly responsible for the collection of 1,607 samples affecting the city milk-supply. (This does not include the " check" samples already referred to.) Of this number, thirty-three were extensively watered, thirteen were skimmed, eight contained excessive amounts of dirt, six were stale, and thirty-four were slightly deficient in various ways. Most of the watering was done in the months of July and August, and varying amounts up to 25 per cent, were added, the average for the adulterated samples being 12 per cent. Other Districts. —The following table summarizes the results from other districts. The worst case of watering (42 per cent, of added water) was from Putiki (Wanganui), though one from Dannevirke (32 per-cent.) and another from Gisborne (28 per cent.) were almost as bad from the standpoint of the consumer : —

Mr. R. L. Andrew, who is in charge of the foods section of the laboratory, has computed the average composition of the milk received each month. The results for 1917 and 1918, arranged in graphic form, will be published as an appendix to the detailed Laboratory Report. They are especially interesting when compared with the averages for the Aylesbury Dairy Company, London, as given in " Dairy Chemistry " (2nd edition), by H. D. Richmond. Plunket Nurses. —Fifty-eight analyses of human and humanized milks have been made for Plunket nurses, and have afforded some guidance in the treatment of children who were not thriving as they should.

Samples received. Seriously skimmed. Watered. Slightly below Standard. Locality. Blenheim Carterton Castlecliff Clive .. Dannevirke Rltham Featherston Featherston Camp Foxton Gisborne Greytown Hastings ... Havelock North. . Ha wo ra Hutt (Lower) Mangapapa (Gisborne) Martinborough Marton Napier Nelson . . Patea Petone Putiki (Wanganui) Stratford Taihape Taranaki Hospital District Waipawa Waihiki (Hawke's Bay) .. Westport Woodville 15 8 1 5 27 5 28 86 1 46 5 22 I 6 37 6 2 I 25 20 2 23 1 2 3 32 7 3 10 2 1 2 3 2 I I I 2 1 > I 2 4 I 1 Q O 1 2 i I i i. 1 I I i 3 Totals Totals, 1917 432 451 6 12 16 26 18 23