LOTIONS, PUKCxES, BLISTERS, ETC. 151 



efficacy, particularly within the limited time that can he de- 

 voted to that purpose, without interfering with the commer- 

 cial interests of the vessels. 



"It would occupy too much time to carefully scour and 

 afterwards aj)ply a disinfecting fluid to the entire surface of a 

 ship's hold, in which, generally, there are many crevices and 

 parts that cannot be reached l3y the hand or brush. Such 

 crevices and parts are capable of retaining the contagious and 

 infectious principles in all their virulence. 



' ' Holds of vessels, and all other chambers from which the 

 external air can be excluded for a time, can be, comparatively 

 speaking, most effectually disinfected by filling them with 

 chlorine gas, the great disinfecting princii^le of chloride of 

 lime. The gas insinuates itself into every chink, crevice, and 

 l)art of the chamber in which it is confined, and more effec- 

 tually decomposes the contagious and infectious compounds, 

 whether they be solid, fluid, or aeriform, than any other disin- 

 fectant equally easy of application, and as cheap. IChe mode 

 of disinfecting the hold of a vessel with chlorine is, to place 

 a quantity of common salt and black oxide of manganese in a 

 strong basin, which may be put into a bucket, to the handle 

 of which a rope has been attached. Pour on the salt and 

 black oxide of manganese their combined weight of sidphuric 

 acid ; then let the bucket containing the basin a little way 

 down into the hold by the rope attached to its handle. The 

 chlorine gas, being heavier than the atmospheric air, will 

 quickly displace the latter and fill the hold. In a short time, 

 when the hold has become filled with chlorine, the hatches 

 may be battened down for about half an hour. 



* ' Previous to using the hold again for live freight, a current 

 of air should be admitted through it to remove the chlorine. 



" Many recommend the use of charcoal ; but it is not alone 

 more difficiilt of application, but it is much less of a disinfect- 

 ant than a deodoriser. Charcoal will not, like the chlorides, 

 decompose the matter of disease. If the damp matter of 

 glanders, or sheep-pox, be well mixed with a strong solution 

 of chloride of lime, it will seldom j)roduce bad effects by in- 

 ocidation ; but if pure charcoal of any kind be used, the con- 

 tagious principle of the diseased matter is not at all diminished 



