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have, in fact, already been erected in and outside London and
other authorities are considering a similar scheme. The following
description of the chambers by the Chief Sanitary Inspector, Mr.
W. Peverett, may prove of assistance to other authorities
"The cyanide disinfestation plant consists of two gastight
chambers with airing shelter, gas store, etc. The larger
chamber, with a capacity of approximately 3,600 cubic feet,
will receive and entirely enclose the largest type of furniture
removal van holding the effects of one to three families. This
chamber was erected in 1934 at a cost of £780. The walls,
which are 1ft. 2in. thick, are of fletton bricks laid in cement
and sand, rendered internally with sand and cement and
finished with seraphite plaster. The roof is of reinforced
concrete covered with asphalte.
"The sliding entrance door is the full size of the entrance
end of the chamber, is made of deal and lined with zinc and
braced on the outside with lengths of channel iron which take
the strain and distribute the pressure of the clamps with lathe
cut screws which pull the door tight against a rubber insertion
let into the door frame. A strip of rubber also runs round the
door itself so as to obtain a joint of rubber against rubber.
The door runs on a Coburn track with special swivel joints to
allow of lateral movement when the door is clamped.
"The chamber is heated by three steam radiators, one of
which is enclosed to form a hot air cabinet with a 9in. fan to
draw heated air into the chamber when the gas is being drawn
out. A 12in. exhaust fan is fixed at the end of the chamber
with a 12in. exhaust vent carried up above the roof. Five air
inlets are provided for use after fumigation to clear the
furniture of gas.
"The cyanide is introduced into the chamber without
danger to the operators or the need of gas masks. A special
cutter is operated from outside the chamber. The cutter takes
out one end of a tin containing one kilogramme of cyanide in
the form of Zyklon B, and the contents of the tin fall on to a
zinc tray with perforated corrugations which is heated by one
of the radiators fixed below. A small motor fan drives the gas
into the interior of the van by means of a hood fixed over the
cutter and tray and a pipe laid on the floor of the van.
"Two small observation windows are provided for the use
of the operators, one at each end of the chamber.