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On destroying Vermin on Board Ships by Steam. 
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lieve, that the steam was not applied to the utmost extent of its power on that oc- 
casion. It has, however, since, on the representation made by Captain Ford of the 
success of the experiment in England, been applied to perhaps as great an extent as 
it could be with safety; and certainly to sufficient extent for all practical purposes, 
with the most complete success : since that experiment too it has been applied on 
several other occasions. 
The first trial in this country was on the Honorable Company’s ship Investigator. 
The experiment was conducted by Capt. Forbes, of the Bengal Engineers, and Mr. 
Kyd, the Honorable Company’s Master Builder, and, as might be expected in such 
hands, would appear to have been managed in the detail, with the utmost care and 
attention, affording a secure guide for future operations. The following is an extract 
from their able and interesting Report. 
« j. We had the Honorable Company's Steamer Irrawaddy moored alongside 
the Investigator ; and having fitted two lead pipes furnished with stopcocks to the 
head of the Irrawaddy's boiler, by means of a new manhole cover ; we led the 
pipes into the Investigator, and put them down the fore and after hatchways into 
the hold. 
2. We had, in the mean time, closed the scuttles of the Investigator’s sides, as 
well as all the hatches ; moreover, the stern and gallery windows, and the entire 
front of the poop ; boring at the same time a hole in each gallery cell, to allow the 
steam to come up from the hold into the cuddy. 
3. We also fitted a pipe, having a stopcock on it, to the main hatchway, which 
was opened occasionally to observe the state of the steam, in case of danger, from 
its overpressure. 
4. These preparations being made, we had the fires of the Irrawaddy’s boiler 
lighted at 11 a. M. on the 7th ultimo, so as to let on the steam at noon the same 
day ; by six o'clock the same evening, the steam began to show itself at the scuttles, 
and at the hatches ; and the poop and upper deck began to feel hot. We continu- 
ed the steaming for 48 hours, by which time the whole of the decks and sides even 
to the out side copper, close to the water’s edge was so heated, as to be scarcely 
touchable by the hand. 
5. On opening the hatches to ascertain the result of the operation, we were 
pleased to see the effectual manner in which the penetrating heat of the steam had 
destroyed the vermin. The white ants appeared reduced to a substance like soap, 
and the cockroaches and rats, to a soft pulp, capable of being washed down into 
the limbers. 
(i. The putrid smell of animal decomposition came on at the end of 24 hours, 
but did not continue above a day. 
7. The paint on the beams and sides was shrivelled, and peeled off, and the 
leather which covered the ring bolts in the cuddy, was converted into charcoal. 
8. We have purposely delayed sending in our Report, till we could ascertain the 
effect of the steaming on the caulking, a matter regarding- which we were anxious, 
inasmuch as, if that had been disturbed, the operation would in future have had to be 
confined to a ship about to undergo repair in dock. We have, however, satisfaction 
in being able to report, that we can discover no injurious'effect on the caulking ; fur- 
ther, that the steaming a ship for the destruction of vermin seems perfectly feasi- 
ble, either afloat or in dock, whether about to undergo repair, or to proceed to sea. 
’Hie only circumstance demanding attention in the latter case is, that the ship will 
require new painting. _ 
'if. Although the destruction of vermin by steaming may be resorted to under 
*11 circumstances, yet the steaming of vessels in dock, previous to their under- 
going their usual quinquennial repair of cauHdng and coppering, will be the most 
desirable. . , . 
10. In addition to advantages already noticed, the facility of introducing the 
steam from below, and the absence of condensation by the water, in contact with 
the whole surface of the imm ersed bottom, when afloat, will enable the steam to 
effect its object in one-third less time. „ 
11. The present experiment having enabled us to ascertain an efficient and sim- 
ple method of steaming ships, to destroy vermin, we beg here to record our opinion, 
that in all moderately large ships about to be steamed, the masts and bowsprit 
ought to be taken out, as- also- all projecting boomkins, davits, and cat heads. The 
whole of the hammock stantions and external birthing should further be taken 
away, and the ship be cleared of all lumber, and articles likely to sustain injury from 
the steam. 
