182 BACTERIOLOGY. 
It is claimed for this method that the degree of heat 
necessary to break up the polymerized products formed 
is supplied, and thus a loss of formaldehyde is pre- 
vented. A further action of the intense heat in the 
copper tube on the solution is to partially convert the 
methyl-alcohol contained in commercial formalin into 
formaldehyde gas by partial oxidation, thereby pre-— 
venting the formation of methylal and increasing the 
amount of formaldehyde. 
_ The apparatus consists of a closed receiver of copper 
holding about a gallon, a coil of copper pipe attached 
at one end to the bottom of the receiver, and, like the 
preceding apparatus and that made by Lentz, at the 
other, by means of a suitable connection (rubber tube 
with gutta-percha or metallic mouth-piece), with the 
room or apartment to be disinfected, and a heating 
lamp (Swedish lamp or Bunsen burner). In opera- 
tion the desired quantity of formalin is placed in the 
receiver and the receiver is closed. The lamp is 
lighted and the coil brought to a red heat. The valve 
is then opened and the solution contained in the receiver 
is allowed to pass down and into the coil in a fine 
stream. Upon coming in contact with the heated 
metal the formaldehyde solution is instantly decom- 
posed, and the liberated gas is further purified as it 
progresses through the incandescent coil. The re- 
sults with this apparatus have been as good as those 
obtained by the Trillat or Lentz systems. The 
apparatus is liable to get out of order, in that the 
valve is apt to become clogged and so stop the flow 
of formalin until freed by a wire supplied for the 
purpose. 
A great improvement in this apparatus has recently 
