The Central Range plunges abruptly to the sea along the eastern coast, except for an area north of Tʻai-tung, where the Tʻai-tung Rift Valley and a short coastal ridge farther to the east are located.

This meant that while most of the public continued to associate the work of the FDA with its policing duties as de facto quackbuster, the administration quietly spent more time and money investigating the booming pharmaceutical industry.

'This again,' said the Bacteriologist, slipping a glass slide under the microscope, 'is a preparation of the celebrated Bacillus of cholera - the cholera germ.'

The “phil” (die philiale, Parkring 12, +43 (0)158 10 489, www.phil.info) is, “A new and very popular cosy hang-out for cinephiles, audiophiles, librophiles and other philes. You can browse through their selection of books, DVDs and records while you enjoy a coffee or snack. The furniture is for sale too,” she adds.