REPORT OF WILLIS G. TUCKER, M. D., Ph. D. Director State Board of Health Laboratory BAXTER T. SMELZER, M. D., Secretary State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.: Sir-During the year ending December 31, 1900, 57 samples of drinking water from various parts of the state have been received, of which number 50, being in good condition and sufficient quantity, were analyzed and reported upon; and 45 other articles, including food and food-colors, sewages and miscellaneous substances which have been submitted to me from time to time have been examined. An investigation of coloring substances used in food, referred to in my last annual report as having been entered upon in December in compliance with a law passed by the legislature of 1899, was completed in February, and other matters of minor importance which have been referred to me have received attention. The correspondence of the laboratory has been quite extensive, and many inquiries concerning food and drug adulteration, the testing of illuminating oils, analytical methods and standards, water supply and pollution, and similar matters have been answered and the desired information supplied. Reports upon the work of the laboratory have been transmitted monthly as heretofore, and a summary of this work, with certain reports not elsewhere appearing in the report of the Board, is now transmitted as follows: January 4. Received sample of water from Waverly, marked "Waverly water supply," and forwarded by the board of health of Waverly. Ordered examined January 2. Analyzed and reported upon January 9. January 31. Received sample of "None-such pumpkin" and letter from Dr. C. N. Hammond, health officer, Elmira Heights, stating that the use of the same was thought to have occasioned illness. Examined same and reported as follows: ALBANY, February 7, 1900 BAXTER T. SMELZER, Secretary State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.: Dear Sir-On January 31 I received from you a bottle said to contain "diluted 'None-such prepared pumpkin' purchased at a grocery store" with a copy of a letter from Dr. C. N. Hammond, health officer, Elmira Heights, from whom it had been received, in which it was stated that “two persons ate of it, one while dry, the other after being diluted," and stating that these persons had been poisoned from eating it. The bottle contained a thick fluid, apparently such as might have been prepared for making pies which, when received, was in a state of active fermentation. I fed a portion of the fluid to a cat, which ate part of it and suffered no ill effects. Portions of the fluid have been examined for metalic poisons, but no arsenic, antimony or other mineral poison has been detected. If this material gave rise to symptoms of acute poisoning such symptoms may have been occasioned by putrefactive changes resulting in the formation of poisonous ptomaines, but the possibility ought not to be lost sight of that the symptoms described may have resulted from some other and undiscovered cause. Since no fatal results followed, and no criminal action seems to have been suspected, it would seem to be unnecessary to make further examination. Very respectfully your obedient servant WILLIS G. TUCKER Director February 12. Received sample of water from Dr. G. Herbert Brown, health officer, Highland Falls, together with another sample which was broken in transit. Ordered examined February 2. Analyzed and reported upon February 20. February 17. Submitted following report of coloring matters used in food. REPORT UPON EXAMINATION OF FOOD COLORS To the Legislature: ALBANY, April 2, 1900 I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the State Board of Health upon examination of samples of food colors in conformity with the provisions of chapter 518 of the laws of 1899. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ALBANY, February 17, 1900 BAXTER T. SMELZER, Secretary New York State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.: Dear Sir-In accordance with your instructions of December 6th last, and in accordance with the provisions of chapter 518 of the laws of 1899, entitled "An act to amend the agricultural law, relating to the manufacture and use of coloring matter in food products," I caused to be purchased in this city a number of samples of articles found on sale in the stores and intended for the coloring of foods, and have caused an examination of the same to be made. The act referred to provides that “No person or persons shall manufacture, sell or expose for sale any poisonous coloring matter for the coloring of food products of any kind, nor shall any person or persons use any poisonous coloring matter manufactured, sold, offered or exposed for sale within this state; nor shall any person or persons sell, offer or expose for sale any food product containing such poisonous coloring matter", and it makes it the duty of the State Board of Health to "cause samples of coloring matter that are exposed for sale upon the market for use in food products, to be analyzed and report the results of such analysis to the legislature at the next session", but as no appropriation was made for defraying the expenses of such an investigation, and our laboratory facilities, assistance, and means for carrying on our present and necessary work already insufficient, it has been impossible to make such an investigation of the subject as its seeming importance might be thought to demand. I can therefore only report upon the examination of a limited number of samples, which samples |