STERILIZATION UNDER PRESSURE. 



61 



in them all are, however, the same. They provide for 

 the generation of steam in a chamber from which it can- 

 not escape when the apparatus is closed. Upon the cover 



FIG. 10. 



Autoclave or digester for sterilizing by steam under pressure. 



of this chamber is a safety-valve, which can be regulated 

 so that any degree of pressure (and coincidently of tem- 

 perature) that is desirable can be maintained within the 

 sterilizing chamber. These sterilizers are known as 

 " digesters " and as " autoclaves." Their construction 

 can best be understood by reference to Fig. 10. 



