DISINFECTION AT QUARANTINE. 



345 



gain access to other parts of the country, carrying with them 

 whatever of good or ill they may bring. Their baggage and 

 clothing, if from infected ports, can carry the seeds of disease 

 and afford favorable conditions for the reproduction of germ life. 



The port of New York, with its magnificent harbor and im- 

 mense marine commerce, is one of the centers that requires in- 

 tense, concentrated vigilance to protect the city itself and the 

 country at large. One of its great dangers is that of disease 

 brought by incoming vessels. 



The health officer of the port of New York has charge of the 

 health of all of those on incoming 

 vessels. The headquarters of the 

 boarding station is situated at the 

 Narrows, on the Staten Island shore. 

 Side by side are the grim fort and the 

 health officer's headquarters the one 

 an arm of the nation, the other a de- 

 partment of the State ; both there to 

 guard and protect the safety of the 

 country. Detention at quarantine 

 has been a precautionary measure, 

 the disinfecting process slow and 

 laborious. 



Disinfection is the destruction of 

 germ life. The penetrative quality 

 of the means is a most important 

 factor. Access to the seeds of dis- 

 ease, destruction of germ life, and 

 the removal of conditions favorable 

 to the reproduction of germ life are 

 necessary to effect thorough disin- 

 fection. The destruction of the germ 



to be effected without the destruction of property or unnecessary 

 inconvenience or delay is the problem. 



The means in use consists of a steam disinfecting chamber 

 (two hundred and thirty degrees of heat is destructive to germ 

 life) ; bichloride of mercury used in solution of 1 to 1,000 or 1 to 

 1,200 ; sulphur fumes, which last have but little penetrative 

 quality ; and sea-water and salt-water soap for bathing purposes, 

 to be used when necessary. It has been found expedient to com- 

 bine these means and construct apparatus to enable the process of 

 disinfection to be carried out rapidly and thoroughly. 



The floating disinfecting plant system now contains all that 

 is needed to effect a thorough and complete disinfection. The 

 people detained are submitted to a rapid and efiicacious process 

 of cleansing and disinfection, their clothing being treated simul- 



VOL L. 27 



Hot and Cold Water Sopplt Cocks. 



