Ct. H. F. Nutt all 
463 
pressure of 4§-5 atmospheres, a temperature of 105° C. is attained within 
the chamber in about 30 minutes. 
Procedure. After introducing the effects and closing the chamber, 
steam is turned into the radiators until the inside temperature attains 
50° C. (dry), after which steam is admitted to the chamber until 100° C. 
is reached; steam is kept up for 45 minutes and then cut off, the radiators 
being allowed to act for 30 minutes longer. The effects are removed as 
soon as possible after the door has been opened, being taken out and 
shaken until dry, this being effected in a few moments. The preliminary 
heating prevents excessive condensation of steam on its first entry into 
the chamber and the final period of heating with radiators hastens drying. 
The author states that a railway van can be converted into a disinfector 
in the manner described, at a cost of 500 marks (£25). 
Disinfecting trains may be stationed on sidings. Lelean (1917, 
pp. 111-115) states that two trucks 18 feet long will deal with the 
belongings (kit, greatcoat, two blankets) of 150 men per hour, and that 
four trucks would deal with the effects of a brigade in two days. Buchanan 
(1917, p. 21), likewise writing from experience in Egypt, refers to such 
trains as giving excellent results. 
According to Lelean (1917, p. 208) such trains have many advantages, 
apart from mobility, over other installations: (a) “ They are economical, 
for all clothing can be steamed, only one furnace is kept burning and the 
locomotive fetches its own fuel.” ( b ) “Weight being no object, folding 
canvas screens and pipe systems can be carried and rapidly fitted to 
supply the shower-baths.” (c) “The clothing can be rapidly dried in the 
trucks when sterilized.” ( d ) “The number of trucks is easily increased, 
so that when required the train can deal simultaneously with one full 
regiment on either side, and thus de-louse a brigade in a couple of days.” 
(e) “Being light, it can be drawn by an engine too decrepit to be of use 
for heavy military work, and so senile as to have one wheel in the scrap 
heap.” 
Through the courtesy of Major W. C. Smales, R.A.M.C., of the War 
Office, since the foregoing paragraphs were set up in type, I have been 
able to consult a MS. Report on Disinfestation by means of Railway Van 
Disinfectors by Colonel William Hunter, A.M.S. (dated 16. iv. 1917), who 
introduced the vans into Egypt in February, 1916. It appears that 
Lieut.-Colonel Stammers, R.A.M.C., when in Serbia, early in 1915, first 
used current steam from locomotives for disinfecting clothing exposed 
to its action in railway vans. Hunter, however, first brought the method 
into regular use, and by certain modifications in the manner of admitting 
