478 
Combatiiig Lous iness 
Hunter (MS. cit. p. 463) states that railway van steam disinfectors 
are greatly superior to anything else for the disinfection of troops and 
ordnance clothing when troops are near to railway lines. The working 
capacity of two vans is 500 complete kits per 2 hours; they can deal 
readily with 2000 complete kits during a working day of 8 hours at 
a reckoned cost of \d. per kit, and this turnover is compared with that 
of a Thresh machine which can only accomplish the same amount of 
work in 55 days at a cost of 4 \d. per kit. As equivalent loads per van are 
given, (a) 500 blankets, ( b ) 300 blankets and 150 full kits, (c) 500-600 
greatcoats, a van can deal (when loaded twice in succession) with all 
the effects of 200-250 men, namely the full kit, greatcoat and 2 blankets 
per man. It is estimated that the turnover of two vans amounted to 
50,000-60,000 disinfections per month when dealing with the effects of 
troops and native labourers. Whilst in use the locomotive consumes a 
\ ton of coal per day. 
Some striking figures are furnished to show the working capacity of 
two vans on several occasions: They disinfected 7850 kits in 4 days; 
10,000 in 10 days (3800 in one day alone); 16,000 in 12 days; 18,000 in 
9 days, and 10,000 in 4 days. These figures afford sufficient evidence of 
the value of the method in dealing with the effects of large bodies of men. 
Effects of Disinfection or Disinfestation on Clothing, etc. 
I. Steam. 
Unsuited for treatment by steam are leather, furs, india-rubber, books, 
papers, mss, all articles containing glue or wax or coated with varnish. 
It should be remembered that stains due to blood and excreta are fixed 
by steam heating or boiling, they should therefore be washed prior to 
being treated. Some colours run in fabrics that become wetted by water 
of condensation. Leather shrinks and grows brittle, furs are ruined. 
Suited for such treatment are textile fabrics dyed with fast colours, 
blankets and bedding. Clothing is liable to shrinkage and becomes badly 
creased if compressed; it should be so nearly dry on removal from the 
disinfector that it dries completely on being shaken a couple of times in 
the open air. 
II. Hot-air. 
TJnsuited for treatment with hot air are articles containing wax, india- 
rubber (if the temperature is too high), and effects stained in the manner 
referred to under Steam. Wet leather. 
