464 
Combating Lousiness 
the steam into the chamber, greatly enhanced its efficiency besides 
shortening the exposure-time required. 
Construction. The vans employed in Egypt are of iron but otherwise 
of ordinary form with double closely fitting doors at the sides. The steam 
from the engine is conducted through the ordinary couplings that are 
employed in connection with the steam heating of passenger carriages on 
railways, usually two vans being coupled to the engine. The steam main 
from the engine sends branches up to two parallel pipes about 4 feet 
apart running along and upon the van floor so that they are distant 
from the walls and leave a gangway between them along the centre of 
the van. These pipes are of large size and the steam escapes from them 
through a double row of fine apertures (J inch) six inches apart and bored 
along the upper arc of the pipe. A light but strong wooden framewmrk, 
whose supports rest on the floor close to the inner sides of the pipes, is 
built in the van to support three superposed shelves extending to the 
walls and running parallel to the length except where the doors open. 
These shelves are formed of slats about 3 inches apart and they serve 
for the reception of clothing. The steam leaves the engine at 6 lbs. pressure 
and consequently enters the chamber superheated, in great volume and 
with much force. The “heat of condensation” is considerable and the 
penetration rapid, so that when the chamber is loaded with bundles of 
clothing, even to overfilling, the heat penetrates quickly into the centre 
of the bundles. Within 5 minutes of turning on the steam, the exterior 
surface of the van wall can scarcely be touched because of the heat. The 
air and steam find apparently a sufficient escape through the narrow 
chinks at the door joints. 
A temperature of 105° C. is attained in the centre of the largest 
clothes bundles or a rolled mattress within 30 minutes of turning on the 
steam; lice and nits are naturally found killed and shrivelled, for even 
potatoes placed in the middle of the bundles are cooked through in 
30-40 minutes. 
Procedure. The steps in the process of disinfecting the clothing, etc., 
of troops and prisoners of war are as follows: (1) The men parade, a com¬ 
pany at a time, at intervals of 2 hours. (2) They remove all their clothes 
and remain dressed only in their greatcoats, caps and boots (articles 
made of leather, helmets, caps, waterproofs, ground-sheets and effects 
that include felt, glue or rubber must not be treated in the disinfector), 
all their other clothing being packed by them loosely in their two 
blankets tied up, with their identity discs firmly attached thereto. 
(3) The men parade and carry their bundles to the door of the 
