94 Dr. Ure on Disinfection. 



C, the muriatic acid is to be poured in at proper inter- 

 vals. This syphon may, probably, in the present case be dis- 

 pensed with, and the acid may be introduced at B. The dis- 

 engaged gas will flow off along the horizontal pipe D, into the 

 fanner F F. When its vanes are made to revolve, atmospheric 

 air will enter freely by the open pipe B, and passing across the 

 vessel A, will dilute the chlorine to any degree. The mixed 

 gases will be drawn in through the pipe D, and projected with 

 centrifugal force through any outlet in the circumference of 

 the blowing cylinder F. The horizontal axis of the fanner 

 revolves at one end in the conical bush of a step or stirrup I, 

 and at the other in a stuffing-box K. With this apparatus, 

 chlorine may be readily propelled in any state of dilution, in 

 any quantity, and in any direction, through apartments of any 

 kind. Such an effective application of this anti-putrescent 

 antiloimic element will infallibly exercise an expurgatory 

 influence, no less sweetening to the senses, than salubrious to 

 the system ; and ought to banish for ever the sham or mis- 

 directed agency of chloride of lime or chlorine, with which 

 medical men have so often deceived themselves and the pub- 

 lic *. Wherever chlorine has failed to extinguish infectious 

 fomes, the operator, and not the chemical agent itself, has been 

 in fault. Let us suppose, for example, that the fetid air of 

 a dissecting-room is to be sweetened ; and that this is attempted 

 by setting on the table or floor a few saucers filled with 

 chloride of lime. If the air remain fetid, is chlorine to be 

 deemed inert and inefficacious ? No, surely ; for the operation 

 was unskilfully performed. Thus also a small portion of chlo- 

 rine, liberated on the floor of an apartment containing beds 

 and furniture, may never rise in adequate force to the line of 

 the walls where contagious virus may lurk. This remark is 

 peculiarly applicable to the less fugacious infections, as the 

 variolous, which require an energetic dose of chlorine. In 

 fine, one rule may serve for the bleacher and disinfector by 

 this element ; that is, to employ it in doses proportional to the 

 stubbornness of the colouring or morbific matter. 



* Mr. Faraday's elaborate fumigations of the Milbauk Penitentiary do not fall 

 under this censure. 



