General Subjects. 127 



(3) Work as follows : Add the 4 ozs. of acid to the 7 ozs. of 

 water in a saucer (never add the water to the acid) ; then put the 

 2 ozs. of cyanide in small lumps wrapped up in blotting-paper into 

 the saucer and close the bin up quickly ; the fumes do not come off 

 for a few seconds, so there need be no danger of inhaling them. If 

 fumigating a room, put the saucer close to a door and drop the cyanide 

 into it and shut the door rapidly ; manage so that you need only put 

 your arm into the room. 



Leave the stores in the fumes for two hours at least, and then 

 open the windows from outside ; do not go into the room for at least 

 an hour after the doors and windows have been thrown open. Night- 

 time is the best time to fumigate ; a man should keep guard to stop 

 people going near when either method is employed, if many people 

 are al^out and used to entering the room. 



If you can put the stores in bins, I should use bisulphide ; if to 

 fumigate a room or store, the hydrocyanic gas. With reasonable care 

 there is no danger in the use of either. 



GENERAL SUBJECTS. 

 Green Matter in Lewes Public Bath. 



To an enquiry received by the Director from the Lewes Town 

 Council regarding the inconvenience caused by quantities of green 

 matter appearing in the Public Baths, the following report was sent : — 



The green matter sent from the public bath at Lewes is mainly 

 composed of algte — the majority are Desmids and Diatoms — but the 

 slime masses are formed by a Leiieoiiostoc. There are no traces of any of 

 these in the sample of water sent taken direct from the pump. 



The bottom and sides of the bath are probably covered witli these 

 organisms, which increase with great rapidity ; the slime masses formed by 

 the Leuconostoc forming on the floor and sides of the bath, and when 

 disturbed by swimmers float to the surface. The green colour is due to 

 certain of the " blue green " algae contained with the Desmids and 

 Diatoms in the slime. A few protozoa and dipterous larvae and seeds of 

 elm, etc., were also present, but the cause of the green floating masses is 

 undoubtedly the slime-forming alg» referred to. 



The remedy found successful in cases of a similar nature is the 

 employment of sulphate of lime. The bath should be well cleansed and 

 washed out a few times with a strong solution of the above, the sides as 

 well as the floor. 



