LABORATORY SECRETS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1931, Page 3

LABORATORY SECRETS

STRiANGEi , OFFICI AL REQUESTS.

AIDS TO DISCOVER CRIME. Alcoholic liquors consisting of a. mixture of wine, whisky and tea; deleterious matter on the backs of stamps, and soot, which irritates the throats of the most .hardened .chimney-sweeps, are mentioned in the ...annual report of the British Government. -Laboratory, which was issued recently, One of the most .important pieces of research work carried , out during the past year concerned the deterioration of cinematograph films. Investigations showed that films are likely to deteriorate if, while being developed, they have been hurriedly washed, or if weak “hypo” lias been used. The report suggests 'that more thorougn methods of developing films should be introduced, and that the use of inefficient machines be discontinued. 'Til© laboratory lias given valuable help to the police- during the past year, 42 samples, including paint Scrapings suspected of containing blood, were submitted in connection with legal proceedings. Valuable light is cast by thte report on the inscrutable methods of Whitehall and the strange varieties of inquiries which Government departments instigate. The Ministry of Mines, for instance, ordered the examination of 27 different specimens of water in order to ascertain whether the water was pure enough to he used for pit.heacl baths. The, refreshment department of the House of Commons sent one sample of butter and one of milk to the laboratory for analysis. The report tactfully refrains from disclosin what results the analysis showed. The High Commissioner for India, for some reason gave instructions that 27 different samples of anaesthetics should be tested. The • Prison Commissioners for Scotland Submitted f°nr samples of soap for examination. And the G.P.O. had a senes of experiments conducted to discover if any' evil effects were likely to attend the sending of gold thread, stealing wax, cycTo parts, and white lead through the post.

But the most strange investigation was carried out at the request? of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries; it’ consisted of taking specimens of water from the North Sea and the Atlantic and comparng their relative snltness. It- was proved that there is more salt in the Atlantic than in the North Sea.