DISINFECTION AT QUARANTINE. 



351 



Tlie bundles into whicli the clothing, etc., are rolled are 

 securely fastened before being tossed into the receiving car, and 

 remain there undisturbed, each numbered, to effect rapid identifi- 

 cation. 



The rapidity and thoroughness of this disinfection depend on 

 the vacuum-system process. 



The air is drawn from the disinfecting chamber, and as the 

 vacuum increases the air is withdrawn from the interstices of the 

 fabrics to be disinfected. 



Advantage is now taken of the fact that a rise in the tempera- 

 ture takes place rapidly in a vacuum. To effect the rise in tem- 

 perature, to attain the necessary degree of heat, live, dry, super- 

 heated steam is admitted to the interior of the disinfecting 

 chamber. This steam contains in reality little more water than 

 the air that was withdrawn, being in a finely divided state at the 

 high temperature at which it is introduced into the vacuum. The 



SuLPHUB Supply Pipes. 



temperature is easily maintained, there being no air to convey 

 away the heat ; and the steam penetrates to every interstice of 

 clothing or fabric. 



After a proper temperature has been maintained for a suffi- 

 cient length of time, cool air is admitted to the chamber and ex- 

 hausted alternately, until the temperature is sufficiently lowered, 

 when the clothing, etc., is removed and distributed. 



The car is discharged at the opposite end of the chamber from 

 which it entered. The huge steel chest of the disinfecting cham- 



