Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-13
THE RDEDY ISLAND PLANT
Now In Operation at tho Quar-
antlne Station.
DlSINFECTION AND FUMIGATlON
Facilities for the Most
Thorough Service.
The Disinfecting Plant Completed for
tho Government Quarantine station at
keedy Ishnd--Its Arrangements and
Advantages.

The Philadelphia Ledger of Monday gave
the following description of the disinfect-
ing plant for the Reedy Island quarantine
station, constructed by Francis Brothers
of Philadelphia
The disinfecting plant, which is to be
placed on the wharf now finished about
l,5oO feet out from Reedy Island, consists
OF two chambers, each 4 feet 4 inches
wide by s feet inches high inside and l6
feet long. These are made of double steel
sheets, forming steam jacket around the
chambers, both ends of the latter being
closed by movable steam-tight DOORS,
handled by proper cranes. Each of the
chambers is fitted with an Interchangeable
system of pipes, by which steam can be
admitted at will to The jacket or space be-
tween the inner and outer walls of the
chamber, and from the jacket, through
the top, to the interior of the chamber
proper, where the clothing or other ma
terial to be disinfected is placed. Or the
operation may be reversed, and steam cir
culated from the bottom. To this system
Of Interchangeable pipes there is attached
vacuum pump, so that the air can be re-
moved from the chambers, it be very I'M
portant that the air should be removed in
this method of disinfection.
The plant also includes a system of
sulphur fumigation. by which sulphur
fumes are produced in specially designed
furnace, then carried to suitable reservoir,
thence being forced by II powder-driven fan
through pipes to the side of the building.
At this point 6-inch rubber hose Is at
tached, and through them the sulphur
fumes can then be carried into any part
of the vessel in which the fumigation pro.
cess is required.
In addition to the fumigating and dis
Injecting arrangements the plant is pro-
vided with large tank for holding solu-
ton of bi-chlorate of mercury, and by
means of q pump the solution is forced
through rubber hose to any part of the
vessel in which it is to be used.
There is also large fire service pump
Tor fire protection, as we'll as for handling
water for other purposes and 10000
gallon storage tank for fresh water aud a
5000 gallon service water tank. The plant
includes light wrought iron cars for con-
veying into the chambers the material to
ne disinfected; also boilers and other neces-
sary machinery. The cars can be run in
the chamber at one end and out at the
other, and in this way material which has
been disinfected can be kept from that
which is presumed to infected.
The disinfecting plant when placed in
position will be connected by railway
tracks running along the pier, so that when
vessel arrives baggage or clothing to be
disinfected can be placed on the cars on
wire trays or in wire baskets, similar to
those in use at the Pennsylvania Quaran-
tine Station, and at once run in the cham
bers. The latter are fitted with galvan-
lied hood TO prevent the water of condensa-
| ton in the steam from falling on the
articles to be disinfected. To prevent I'M
due condensation Of steam the exterior of
the chambers will be covered with mag
nesia. If the material to be disinfected is
of delicate nature the cars have been pro-
| yided with series OF bronze wardrobe
hooks. In this way articles of clothing
can be exposed to the disinfecting process
| without much liability to damage
In the method of disinfection after the
| clothing or other material has been placed
in chamber the door is made completely
| tight, when the steam in the jacket will
soon bring the clothing TO temperature
nearly equal to that of the steam used; the
| air is then exhausted by vacuum pump,
after which by opening valve the steam
i is admitted from the Jacket and carried
| into the chamber itself, the theory being
that heat alone is not sufficient to kill any
| poisonous germs which may be present;
| all air must be removed, then heat APP
| piled. Steam is used as being the most CON
yenieht medium for carrying the heat.
After the articles to be disinfected have
been exposed for about 40 minutes to a
| temperature of not less than 1899 the
steam can be shut off from the inner
chamber, but it still remains in the jackets
until the material has thoroughly dried by
the temperature thus produced. Hereto
fore the destruction Of clothing during the
process of disinfection has been due largely
to excessive heat. by using steam at high
pressure. By the method adopted by the
Messrs. Francis for the Reedy Island plant,
the disinfecting tanks or chambers are ar
ranged for the use of steam at very low
pressure. The temperature does not ex.
coed 2l2o.
Another advantage in having two
smaller chambers instead of a single large
one is that one can be used at time, OF
they can be used alternately. making 8
continuous working. The chambers each
| weigh about IA 900 pollrds.