The theory and practice of hygiene (Notter and Firth) revised and largely re-written / by R.H. Firth.

  • Notter, J. L. (James Lane), 1843-1923.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The theory and practice of hygiene (Notter and Firth) revised and largely re-written / by R.H. Firth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    737/1096 (page 695)
    off the test-surfaces on to some other part wliich was not at first examined. In white-washed rooms the above difficulties do not arise, as the walls can be readily scraped and then well washed with a solution of chloride of lime. In the case of papered walls all the layers, if there be more than one, should be stripped off and the walls washed with the lime before being re-papered. Ceilings need to be scraped and washed with lime in the same way. All fabrics must be removed from infected rooms, and subjected to disinfection by moist heat. All articles of furniture, of wood, or metal must be washed with soft soap and hot water. As an additional precaution, rooms may be fumigated for three or more hours with chlorine, or nitrous acid, or sulphur dioxide, the doors and windows being subsequently opened, and kept open for twenty-four or thirty-six hours. The difficulties in fumigation arising from the slowness of the diffusion of the disinfectant gas into the air and the consequent uncertainty of the composition of the disinfectant atmosphere at any point are obvious from merely physical considerations. Apart from this, exact bacteriological observations have shown that the disinfecting properties of these gases, when employed for the fumigation of rooms, is most uncertain and unrehable. For these reasons, fumigation of rooms has deservedly fallen into disrepute, and unless supplemented by careful washing and scrubbing is practically valueless. If fumigation is performed, it must be clearly understood that it is quite a subsidiary proceeding, and that it can only be done effectually when the room is unoccupied, as the air must be rendered quite unfit for re- spiration. For the purification or deodorisation of mortuaries and dead-houses, fumigation with nitrous acid or chlorine is both useful and practicable, but their actual disinfection will be best secured by complete and thorough washing and scrubbing with cliloride of Ume or corrosive sublimate solutions combined with free perflation of air. Disinfection of Ships.—Disinfection afloat is practically the same as else- where, with the exception that the apparatus commonly employed for the purpose of purifying bedding and clothing on land are too large and cumber- some to be used on ships. Appliances in which the required temperature is obtained by means of gas are, of course, not available on shipboard. These difficiilties are overcome by fitting up a hulk or tug with apparatus for means of disinfection by steam, sulphur dioxide, chlorine and nitrous acid, or by means of the mercuric drench. All bedding, ship's Hnen, cushions, cm^tains, carpets, rugs, personal baggage, and wearing apparel can be removed from ships and disinfected by steam heat in specially constructed chambers. Leather articles and such as would be injured by moist heat can be treated with the bichloride of mercury solution. The disinfection of the actual ship itself can be secured by first wetting or drenching all available surfaces of the vessel, excepting cargo, but including bilge, ballast, hold, saloons, forecastle, decks, &c., with a solution of mercuric chloride conveyed from the disinfect- ing hulk or tug by rubber hose. For this drenching with the sublimate, scrubbing and washing with chloride of lime may be substituted. If neces- sary, these drenchings and washings can be supplemented by fumigations Avith either chlorine or sulphur dioxide generated on the disinfecting tug and conveyed on board ship by a fumigating pipe and led into the hold. The cargo is not disturbed, but every opening battened down, the process being completed in from three to eight hours. When sulphur dioxide is employed for these fumigations, tubes or tins of the condensed and liquefied gas can be conveniently used in difierent sections of the vessel.