The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-04
DislnfectlOn or the Raritnn.
NORFOLK, Va, Sept. 30, isA7.

of manufacturing chemist, Mr. Chappell, las will be
shown by bill previously rendered, price exceed
ing that which would accrue from purchase of the same
articles in Philadelphia. | then continued on 10 this
city, and after delay of nearly week arising from
storms, which prevented the board of officers APP
pointed by you from making the desired primary survey
of the ship at an earlier period, commenced the disn-
fectng process on the 18th inst
Tuesday, 1iM-At2 o'clock, p. m Capt Stribling and
the medical gentlemen of the board arrived on the duty
for which they were appointed, and Immediately com
menced an examination OF the nam and gundeck OF the
Raran. In the meantime | produced quantity of gas
in the cockpit and adjoining rooms, displace the foul
air. Capt Stribng alone ventured for few minutes
beowthe medical gentlemen not deeming safe to ven
ure beneath the gun deck, the atmosphere there giving
them sufficient evidence of the state of the air the hold
of the ship.
Wednesday, l5h-NIadc a thorough examination of
every part OF the ship and particularly observed that the
Indictment and cold weather OF the previous week had in
no degree improved her condition; but, the contrary
the hold, bread rooms block rooms &C. were filled with
an atmosphere more disagreeabe than that which
prevailed on board three weeks previous The lnhala
lion of this atmosphere Tor the space OF five or ten MN
ues invariably produced headache and sensation re-
sembng sea-slckness. This dlsagreeabe feeling
relieved both in my own and that OF Mr. Omstead
who accompanied me in the examination, by inhaing
chIonated nitrous oxide gas dfused in the atmosphere
by the subsequent process OF disnfectlng
After careful examination OF every part OF the int
ror of the vessel commenced the dsnfectlng process
by ditfusng chorinated nitrous acid gas IN the for
ward bread rooms block room, and general store
carefully closing the matches and doors OF these
departments that might subsequently compare por-
ton of the ship which had undergone the purifying
process with another part which had not been thus
treated. | suffered these rooms to be closed until
O'clock p ma space of four hours In the mean time
the crew geg the pumps S The leather
lime thrown on some previous occasion into the pump
wells. The rooms in which the gas had been placed
were then opened and was pleased to ind that the ar
could be resped for the space of hour, without pro-
ducing the least unpleasant sensation, either to MT Ohm
stead or myself The air in the part of the ship and
the hold produced headache and sickness as previously
I her ex al ras and
aft, beneath the Raritan's main deckdluslng at
mosphere of chlorinated nitrous oxide through all the
ntestlces OF her hold, and the materials with which she
filled This gas was soon precpltaed IN the form OF
acid dew upon every substance with which II came
in contact This dew was composed IN part OF the
miasmical vapors with which the ship filed, which
were likewise precpltated in contact with the gaseous
dew.
then caused the ship to be pumped out and found the
bilge-water 10 be very foul, with strong fetd smell
1hursday l6th-Drew the boxes from one of the aft
pumps, and poured into the pump-well 80 lbs, of the
crystaized elaborated nitrate OF zinc IN souliono lbs
will dissolve very readily in bucket OF water. In the
decomposition of zinc by ntro-muratic acid the gas
in disnlectng is eliminated and the elaborated nitrate
of zine is deposited in the form OF white crystals will
extend this report with description OF the wonderful
disiniectng qualities OF this metallic oxide. prefer to
let the results exhibit that fact in the subsequent detail
employed the remaining portion OF the day in distributing
the gas throughout the ship.
Friday, 17R-Exposed all the purser's stores to the
action OF the gas; also the clothes (Which were packed
in bags and boxes) of those who had died of the yellow
fever were likewise opened and thoroughly exposed
full sauration of the gas "A weak solution OF the
chornaed nitrate OF zinc Zone pound to bucket OF
water) was then distributed between the tanks in the
hold and upon everything which would admit OF the
application Of water Nitromuratc acid in solution was
likewise thrown into several tanks and water-casks
which emitted fetld smell
Saturday. lSM.--We again pumped the ship, and were
pleased find that the bige water perfectly in
odorous the smell and to the taste II differed IN
degree from the water OF the and were 1t not for
It's intense black and murky appearance 1t would have
been impossible to have distinguished it from ordinary
salt water This effect was due entirely to the 80 pounds
placed in her pump wells She makes about "a inches
of water per day
We likewise removed several barrels containing putrid
provisions; also about fifteen twenty vessels-ars
and ubs--some of them filled with filth in state OF
noXous putrescence also various deposes OF matter In
all stages of decomposition, overhauled, and either
dsnfected by the action of dilute nitrate OF zinc,
thrown overheard The application of the gaseous va
por sill continued twice each day, with constant I'M
prOvement In the
Sunday 19M.--Tle air in the bread rooms not i'm.
proving ratio with the other portions of the ship,
placed materials for producing very large quantity OF
The gas both in the forward and after and closing
he DOORS allowed them to remain thus for three hours IN
he morning. In the afternoon repeated the app caion
ind supplying the usual quanum OF gas to other por-
aons Of the ship, left her closed until Monday morning
ii Monddy 2oM.-Opened the vessel and thoroughly IN
speced every portion of hold Sc Every vestige OF in
lection had disappeared, the was perfectly sweet and
difference could be perceived hetweerner hold, bread
rooms, &c, and the open air but slight smell OF tar
bread &c in the former After full examination,
again exhibited the gas, and distributed the solution OF
nitrate of zinc as usual | then went board Of the
Pennsy vana, and notified Captain Srbling OF my
progress requesting an examination by the board oil OH
GERS appointed for that duty
Tuesday, 2ld-Opened every part OF the vessel pre-
paraory TO the examination by the boad produced no
gas in any part of the ships made distribution OF nj
trate of zinc other disintectng appliances.
About o'clock this day, the board of officers assem-
bed according to appointment TO decide upon the result
of the disnfectng process; and after thorough cxam
nation of every portion of the vessel have rendered the
accompanying report.
also submit, as aduncye to my report, letter direct
ed by Mr. Om5,ead, by request showing the effect
Of the atmos phere upon his who engaged to
pump the ship previous to the of my disnfecting
visit the ship at the present time may here take occa
sion of mentioning the liberal attention OF Mr.. Omstead
who volunteered pioneer, and assisted me throughout
the process of disinfectng the Raritan. happy to
state that he has experienced no Inconvenience from his
exposure.
upon me- a boats crew, and for the purpose OF pump
ing the ship found it impossible to prevent these men
from running about the ship, and overhauling everything
exposed or under lock and key They took this lib
ery during the time that Mr. Olmstead and myself were
engaged with the gas This they commenced i'm
medately after the application OF nitrous acid vapor on
Wednesday, which far purified the air to permit
them TO venture into the hold without experiencing any
unpleasant sensations. None of these men have since
that time experienced the slightest illness Ii will be
seen by Mr. Omsteads statement that hive out OF seven
of these men were taken sick with fever previous to the
use of my dsinfecng agents. merely from venturng up
on the gun deck and pumping out the ship
The bread in the bread is entirely destroyed be-
ing and full of insects and also saturated
with gaseous vapor from the dlsnfectng process This
vapor has principally destroyed the insects and they in
turn will commence to decompose deem 1t essential to