REPORT OF CHEMICAL LABORATORY

There have been made here for the various hospitals and a few

of the other State institutions 822 analyses and other tests, as

There have also been made, mostly for this hospital alone, 1,475

The majority of the commercial analyses call for no special comment other than that submitted with the individual reports.

Of the fuels, the entire number of anthracite coals gave an average ash of 17.88 per cent, and an average heating value of 12,284 B. T. U. The bituminous coals gave, ash 14.88 per cent and heating value 13,219 B. T. U. The general average of the bituminous coals was considerably reduced by a few samples from shipments, practically all "bone," purchased as an experiment during the coal shortage, and showing in one extreme case, ash 47.70 per cent and heating value 7,800 B. T. U.

As time admitted, considerable work was done in continuing and in most cases completing certain experimental studies begun during the severe war shortage for the manufacture of certain of the more commonly used synthetic organic chemicals, and keeping such cost data as were possible on such small scale operations. Fortunately, nearly all of the more important of these are now produced by manufacturers in the United States, so the practical need for the work here no longer exists.

As might naturally be supposed by those familiar with the subject, the commercial production of most of these by other than large scale operations in completely equipped chemical works, is as a rule impracticable and not to be economically considered by small laboratories except perhaps under conditions of unusual

emergency.

The reasons for this lie chiefly in the fact that for most of them there are required from two to several successive intermediate synthetic organic chemical steps, with at each one the complete preparation, separation and purification of an "intermediate " from its accompanying by-products, before the final manufacturing operation is possible, and the use of all the various, although smaller, units of apparatus employed in the larger works. Yields too in each of the various steps are usually far from theoretical.

For comparison there are tabulated below these calculated costs, for materials only, based on current prices and the average yields obtained in the successive steps. It is of course to be understood that these would vary widely under different conditions, especially where by-products could be utilized, and large amounts handled, as regards cheapness of overhead costs. An assured source for

obtaining the starting out materials must also be had. As furnishing some idea of the necessity for operating on quantities, it may be said that some of these chemicals required on this small scale practically one week for completion, even after the working process was established, and apparently large amounts would have required no more.

Ultimate or elementary organic analyses were made of the three alkaloids from ipecac (especially of psychotrine), of bixin (from anatto), a number of pectin bodies (from unripe fruits, etc.), the sulphite lignone from sulphite paper mill liquor (for fermenting for alcohol), and also both proximate and elementary analyses of certain woods (for distillation).

Among medical psychological materials analyses were made of ovarian extract, brain proteins and thyroid extract.

Besides the above, short studies were made on the optical rotation or polarization of camphor, starch and gelatin (with the impure form of glue), as a means of determining these bodies. polarimetrically; on a potassium dichromate standard for nitrates in water analysis; on the nitration of native peat; the preparation of colloidal gold reagent for diagnosis; and on the determination of anthraquinene bodies in aloes.

BERT E. NELSON, Chemist.

Respectfully submitted,

EUGENE H. HOWARD, Chairman
ISHAM G. HARRIS,

CLARENCE A. POTTER,

GEORGE P. WATSON,

CHARLES A. MOSHER,

Purchasing Committee.

REPORT OF THE RETIREMENT Fund

ALBANY, N. Y., August 28, 1919

To the Honorable Retirement Board, State Hospital System:
In accordance with section 110, Chapter 59, Laws of 1912, as
amended by Chapter 607, Laws of 1916, and 499, Laws of 1918,
I respectfully submit herewith a report of the Retirement Fund,
State Hospital System, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1919.

A reference to the statement of operations shows that the revenues for 1919 amount to $173,059.43 as compared with the revenues of 1918, $128,164.02, an increase of $44,895.41, or 35.02 per cent.

Expenses for 1919 were $105,730.69 as compared with $97,124.93 for the year 1918, an increase of $8,605.76, or 8.6 per cent.