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300°. Directly this temperature is reached, the chain breaks, both
dampers fall, and the gas is turned off. Of course fire cannot go on
in a close chamber, so that it rapidly dies out without extending
boyond the articles first ignited. This apparatus is in use at the
Fever Hospital. Tho authorities speak most highly of its performance.
It requires very little attention. The infected articles are
placed in the chamber over night, and allowed to remain until the
morning. The chamber is 5 feet by 5 feet by 6 feet inside. Tho
burners consume about 55 feet per hour, and the price of the apparatus
delivered is £125.
Messrs. Frazer's apparatus is the oldest and the most generally in
use. It is perfectly efficient, if well managed and carefully watched.
It consists of a brick or iron chamber, into which a truck, containing
the infected articles, is run. The iron doors are then closed, a furnace
at the side of the chamber is lighted, and the heat raised to about
250°. By an ingenious arrangement of flues, the hot air is kept
circulating through the chamber, and before being allowed to escape,
is led through the furnace and burnt, so as to destroy every germ of
infeotion. Tho apparatus is no nuisance, and is perfectly safe if
reasonable care be taken. It can be managed by an ordinary labourer,
but it has a certain disadvantage, which is common to Frazer's and
all others constructed upon similar principles. The efficacy of the whole
process depends upon the care of the attendant in charge ; for unless he is
constantly on tho watch while the disinfection is going on, the temperature
rises too high, and the articles placed in the chamber get
scorched. After allowing this to happen two or three times, and
getting into trouble for it, the attendant finds the simplest plan is to
keep the temperature low, and the process degenerates into a farce.
I am told that articles have been returned to the owner as thoroughly
disinfected by this apparatus in which lice and bugs still remained
alive. Now, a temperature incapable of destroying these creatures
would certainly not kill the infection of Small Pox. The expense of
a suitable Frazer's oven for this parish would be about £150, exclusive
of shed.
The last and best process is that of high-pressure heated Steam.
This is used in Mr. Washington Lyon's apparatus. The principle is
that of introducing steam into a close chamber, under regulated pressure.
The apparatus is made of iron (see illustration), shaped something like