EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 



229 



and it is some thing which is within the reach of all, while other methods 

 may not be. 



Steam heat answers much the same pnrpose, but is more con- 

 steam, venieut. A steaming apparatus, which will contain a hundred- 

 fold more than any boiling apparatus, can be made and run at 

 a very low cost. When sterilization is to be carried on day after day, it 

 would be much cheaper in the end to have a steam sterilizer, for it would 

 require less fuel and give much more space. It will not only answer the 

 same purposes as boiliug but will be accompanied by less risk.' Milk 

 sterilized by steam seems to be in a better condition than that subjected 

 to boiling, for the steam heat is much more uniform and less likely to 

 produce a change in the composition of the milk. Utensils may be 

 handled with greater ease from a steaming vat than from boiling water, 

 and so with other things which steam can thoroughly penetrate In the 



laboratories nearly all moist steri- 

 steam lizatiou is carried on by steam, 



sterilizer. The apparatus used for this pur- 

 pose is simple and not much 

 different from the ordinary kitchen vegetable 

 steamer. Conceive the kitchen vegetable 

 steamer with its perforated bottom, its cover, 

 and its low sides, extended till it stands from 

 two to six feet high. Place in the center of 

 the cover a hole for the escape of steam, 

 because moving steam is more effectual than 

 stagnant steam; then a steam sterilizer is 

 complete. To make it as convenient as possi- 

 ble, there is a place in the cover for a 

 thermometer and the bottom is fixed upon 

 a suitable water vessel to which it is per- 

 manently fastened and which is usually a 

 mere coatinuation of the walls, copper lined 

 for the water and flared out to give an exten- 

 sive heating surface. A glass tube connected 

 with the water pot indicates the amount of 

 water and a stop-cock drains off the water 

 when desired. The upper part of this boiler- ^^''^- steam sterilizer, 



like arrangement is therefore used for a steam chamber and the lowti 

 portion, about one-sixth of the whole, ie the water pot._ Underneath the 

 water pot the gas burner is placed. Wire baskets or tin receptacles are 

 often employed for managing small articles with ease. Such a steamer 

 or steam sterilizer is used in the laboratory j but the adjustments for con- 



