FIGHTING VERMIN AND GERMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3191, 15 September 1917, Page 3

FIGHTING VERMIN AND GERMS

Clothing (lisinfcctors of a portable type similar to those in uso in Europe have been purchased by tho (Itlited States Array. The outfit consists of a five horsepower upright boiler connected by piping with a cylindrical . chamber about six feet long and three feet in diameter. The rear end of this jacketed chamber is provided with a door that can be hermetically sealed. A rack for clothing slides into tho chamber, -while smaller articles are laid on a grating where they may be steam-soaked; Tho steam is generated in the boiler at about eighty pounds presiire. Suitnblo valves are provided to reduce this pressure to ten pounds when it enters the chamber. AVhen the jacket about tho chamber is thoroughly heated, tlio articles to be disinfected aro placed in tho rack, which is then pushed into the ■ chamber. Tho door is closed and mndo steam tight. When the temperature within tho chamber hns risen_ sufficiently, an exhanster is opened until tho gauge shows about fifteen inches of vacuum. Then a email amount of steam is allowed to enter the chamber. Following this, the , exhauster again is opened until fifteen inches of vacuum is indicated. Rtcam is then allowed to onter the chamber until tho temperature within it rises to two hundred and thirty-eight degrees 1 , . Tho steam is allowed to circulate through the chamber during the jK-riod of exposure. It is then cut ofT, and the exhauster draws off steam and vapour. After a short drying period the door may be opened and the clothing removed 'When using formaldehyde gas ps a disinfectant in tho apparatus, the jacket is brought to a temperature of eighty degrees F.; the clothing then is placed in the chamber and a vacuum of fifteen to twenty inches obtained. When a tomperaturfi of ninety degrees is reached, the gns is admitted.