DISINFESTATION 53 



and the barrel the effect of current steam is used 

 to destroy the lice. In the case of the train the 

 steam is obtained from the engine, which delivers 

 a generous supply under a pressure of 60-110 Ibs. 

 The steam is led by pipes into ordinary iron goods 

 vans, into which it is discharged. The vans are 

 little modified, being merely provided with shelves 

 on which the articles under treatment are stacked. 

 The men whose garments are to be treated bind 

 them all in a bundle in the blanket, and these are 

 placed on the shelves "and on the gangway be- 

 tween the shelves, the steam nozzles being left 

 unimpeded. The steam is then turned on and 

 the door closed. The temperature quickly rises 

 to 105 C., and this penetrates right through the 

 bundles, as has been shown by means of ther- 

 mometers placed in the least accessible parts. 

 The van is not made air-tight, so that little pressure 

 is caused and the excess of steam escapes under 

 the door. At the end of an hour the current of 

 steam is stopped, the door is opened and the kits 

 removed. Since the moisture which at first con- 

 densed in the clothing has again become converted 

 into steam, a shake in the open air is all that is 

 necessary to dry the garments, and within two 

 hours of their arrival at the train the men are 

 able to leave with a louse-free outfit. It may be 

 remarked in parenthesis that during this period 

 their bodies should have received attention. A 

 busy fortnight for such a van disinfestor is thus 

 described by Colonel Hunter. " A most striking 



