150 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



season, and the air in the building was the same as the exterior air 

 and heavily charged with moisture. Under these conditions, how- 

 ever, the bananas were much bleached and softened. Nevertheless, it 

 must be remembered that there will always be a great deal of mois- 

 ture in the holds of vessels stored with bananas, and its use for the 

 disinfection of such cargoes is therefore most questionable. 



The general results of these experiments as indicated above seem 

 to show that this gas has a very great value for the uses in which it 

 is now employed, namely, the disinfection of vessels and cargoes of 

 grain. Here all conditions are exceptionally favorable. The vessel 

 furnishes a comparatively air-tight fumigating receptacle, and the 

 gas is forced into it by circulation at first, and finally under pres- 

 sure, and made to reach every portion of the vessel. The grain thus 

 disinfected is practically always for consumption and not for plant- 

 ing ; hence the effect on germination is comparatively immaterial. It 

 seems probable also that it may be very useful in a similar way in 

 elevators and flouring mills, eliminating the risk of fire and explo- 

 sion. It is possible, further, that it may have distinct utility as a 

 means of control of such diseases as yellow fever, where it is neces- 

 sary to fumigate house after house over large areas in cities. It 

 would be possible for this apparatus to move from house to house, 

 thoroughly filling and fumigating each individual house in a com- 

 paratively short space of time, with no danger of overheating or fire 

 from burning sulphur directty in the rooms or houses to be fumigated. 

 These points of utility for the gas are in addition to its value as a 

 fire extinguisher and as a general germicide. The Clayton appa- 

 ratus is undoubtedly a most efficient means of quickly generating the 

 gas. The process, however, is very simple and elementary. The 

 danger in the use of the gas is in its corrosive action on metallic sur- 

 faces, and its strong bleaching power b}^ its condensation in the 

 presence of moisture and the formation of sulphuric acid, and its 

 violent and destructive action on all plant life. 



While having no lasting effects of serious nature, the odor of burn- 

 ing sulphur is very objectionable, and it is advisable in employing 

 this means of disinfection to avoid breathing it as much as possible. 

 The ill effects, however, are very temporary, and amount in the case 

 of one not accustomed to the gas to a slight headache or sometimes 

 to a slight effect on the stomach. It is apparently possible to get 

 accustomed to the gas, and the expert who ran the apparatus paid 

 little if any attention to it, and seemed to breathe it for indefinite 

 periods and daily without injury. 



There has been added, as an appendix, the detailed report fur- 

 nished by Mr. Edgar Brown, botanist in charge of Seed Laboratory, 

 of the germination tests made with different grains and seeds sub- 

 mitted to various strengths of the gas. 



