Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-20

Advertiser. 1t will be particularly interesting
to shin owners and masters Of vessels. The sug-
gestons relate to very important subject anu
are entitled to much consideration. Nor do we
doubt that the remedies mentioned by him. tor
the evil alluded to, will be e6icacious:
By the term Bilge Waer, understand that
portion Of water. which. BY the unavoidable ieaA-
age of ship, lodges upon the bilge, or HAT por-
ton of the Bottom, and which cannot, or Goes
not, find its way to the pumps. -,
| This water, by stasnation, by the heat OF the
ship, and BY admixture with foreign substances
derived from the cargo, undergoes iermentaVo'''
and sends forth copious volumes of tetd gases.
| | do not know that this offensive air has eyer
been the subject Of special examination; Out
there can be no doubt that it consists chiefly OF
mixture of carbonic acid, aud OF carburetted
and sulphuretted hydrogen gases ihe eieme ms
of these gases are all found IN sea water OUT
without fermentation thew would not he elected:
II IS the latter only which has decidedly fetid
odour. The second is unpleasant merely To the
senses. The 6rsthas no smell; but when orea'h-
ed in ANY considerable quantity its effects are SUI
focatinp. 1t is questionable, however. whether
the first and second Of these airs extend III any
considerable proportion to the cabin and upper
portions of the ship The sulphuretted hydro
zen. even in extremely small quantities. is hishly
Offensive, and when taken into the lungs, Its ell
fects are depressing and even dangerous.
In seeking for remedy for the bad effects OF
bilse water, the first care should be so to con-
struct the bottom or bilge OF the ship as to cause
all the water, If possible. to How to the pumps
that none may be left to ferment But as ti'is' 10
spite of every precaution, may in many cases be
impracticable, the next care must be, to counter
act the smell, Or 10 other words to absorb or to
decompose the noxious efiuvia. The most etfec-
tual remedy ever found for the gases which
arse from putrefactive fermentation is Chlorine.
Fumirations with this powerful substance have
been found sufficient to destroy every vestige OF
putrescent odor in confined places where it was
too strong to be endured. tits, however, lncon-
venient, and sometimes impossible, 10 employ
fumigat,ons to much extent in the cabin OF ship
where passengers are necessarily confined. The
Chlorine in itself is offensive and dangerous
The solution of 1t in water, obtained by dlffus-
ing the Chloride of Lime in that fuid,} IS the
next best form in which it can DO employed. For
sone purposes, indeed, the use of the solution is
preferable to the fumigation; as in cleansing and
purifying all the wooden other parts Of the ships,
clothes, ropes, &c. TO which infectious matter
may have adhered. If portion of the solution
be left in an open vessel in the cabin, and espe-
cially if IT be gently heated, the gaseous clorine
will be gradually dffused through the apartment,
; and this can be done, (n case the bse water
should be very .roublesome,) as far as the passen-
, gers can bear it.
do not suppose it would be possible to con-
r vey Chloride Of Lime in powder to the bottom OF
the ship. 50 as to mix it it with the bilge water
This would daahtsas sGgsft the RY tyssafScIf the
powdered Chloride colud be spread on floors or
shelves where the bige water efauvlum is the
strongest, it would tend much to counteract the
evil; but as 1t 500 loses its strength when thus
exposed, and is rather expensive, II would be we'll
to use pure lime. Stacked with just water enough
to cause it to fall into powder,-(or if thinTy
spread unslacked it might be as we'll This would
absorb large quantities Of the snphurrettcd hy-
drogen. between Which and lime there is a strong
attraction. All the alkalies and alkaline sslu.
tinhsshave an affinity for this gas of putrefaotion
Hence potash or pearl ash, and washing with their
solutions, would be useful. The same of soda
and its solutions. But the least offensive RENE.
dy of all is the free use of Ammonia, or spirit of
hartshorn | would therefore recommend, that
in all cases ia which passengers are i'll and dis
tressed with the smell Of bilge water, that con-
siderable quantities OF this pungent. but agreeable
gas (Ammonia) should be set free in the cabin,
or near the PATIENTS birth. For this purpose the
ship should be provided with quantity (say half
dozen pounds) of sal-ammoniac, and keg or
cask of good quick lime. Pulverise in a mortar
half tea cupfull of the sal-ammoniac, aud (se-
parately) twice Or thrice as much of the lime
When well powdered mix them and rub them we'll
together in the mortar, Put the mixed powder
in tin or other basin and heat it gradually over
chahng dish of Goals, placed as near the patient
as is convenient. The spirit of hartshorn rising
from the powders. will in all probability com.
pletely overcome the sui phurretted hydrogen, and
| free the cabin for considerable time from its
odor. Wien this process, from violent motion
OF the ship, or other causes, cannot be resorted
to, free use of the smelling bottle may prove an
alienation. A wide mouthed bottle containing
carbonate Of Ammonia should therefore be in
possession OF her or him who anticipates increas-
ed illness from the effects of bigc water.
twill be in the power OF commander to make
such choice Of these remedies as circumstances
may dictate. A ship should never, in my opinion,
be unprorlded with chloride of lime. It's use. as
rnrr r a