New-York tribune., 1896-12-13

der the direct supervision OF President "ilson' VI
the Board and DR.. Herman NJ. Biggs, chlei oi .'o
Division of BacterioloGy. Dr. Biggs was prepaii''s
these plans when he made his trip to Europe several
years ago. and in the course of his researches 'he
he inspected every important disiniecung pait III
England and on the Continent. The contract mas
been given to the Sanitary Construction Company
of this city. whose president. W. +. Morse' IL an
authority on sanitation and disinfection
The new plant will be able to dsinfect clothing
and household articles. such as furniture ana
draperes in a little less than half the ume 'he
present process requires, and its capacity VII! DC
three times as large the one now in use. more
important than this however. it VIII be able 10 90
what has never hitherto been accomplished. 10 as
infect upholstered furniture. hangngs feathers'
furs plushes, velvets and other costly ana hea's
fabrics which up TO this time have had to be burned
after having been brought into contact with lhiec
ton Even in the case of ordinary household and
personal effects better results will be reacheu u
der this system. and there will be less DANGER
of colors running than under the old method.
CHAMBERS IN TWO SETS.
The new plant will be divided into two sections
the steel steam chambers already spoken OF, OF
which they will be two. and the formahh chan-
her also of steel which is TO be used for the as
infection Of costly and fine fabrics. THIS lormahh
chamber. the first to be constructed In the "oru'
opens up a new chapter in the science OF dsinfec-
tion This new gas which Is scientifically known
as formadic acid gas Cformalin' really oeing
4o-per-cent solution of ~. may be discovery
scarcely less valuable than steam as disinrectant
II Is most effectively produced by dehydrogenathS
alcohol and is discovery Of the Germans. Ac-
tive experimenting has been going on for num-
her Of months to learn Its possibilities Its value
IA a disinfectant II is thought, may prove great
Despite the experiments now being made IN various
laboratories, however. this apparatus designed py
Dr. Briggs is the first to be put to practical use
do cfa
is already scientifically proved to be capable OF
doing.
In size the formaln chamber, or generator VIII
be 6x7x4 feet large enough to take within It's NAV
any piece of upholstered furniture. The process
of disinfecting with II is simple A partial vacuum
is produced and by heat the is discharged
from tho solution. Compared with sulphuric acid
gas that which has been In use number OF years
or ever since the science Of disnfection really be-
gan TO be OF practical value 1t is better germicide
and has effect at all upon the alkales and the
colors Of fabrics.
SOME IMPROVEMENTS
As regards the steel steam chambers to be built
there Is a large amount Of novelty, enough al
most to reyoutionize the science Of steam disin-
fecton. The present apparatus made after the
plans Of Dr. Biggs and Professor Pruden. Of Column
bia University. six years ago, while 1t has always
heen effective nevertheless did not always MIA
dsLnfection absolutely scientifically sure. The new
apparatus will embrace all the most recent feat-
securing Of partial vacuum in the chamber, thus
preventing the forming OF "air pockets in heavily
folded piled up goods-always a source OF some
little risk. The old apparatus cannot guard abso-
Other important points in these disinfectlng cham
bers OF steel free flowing currents OF dry steam
on na Of r. ho an @ e
removing all traces Of moisture. There is also q
mechanism for obtaining a high temperature If II
should be desired. and a high pressure OF from SIX
10 ten pounds. Thus the apparatus can be used FOR
either high or low pressure. though IL Is not likely
that the high pressure system will be used much as
penetration by this method is apt 10 change the
color Of goods In many cases and can be effectively
used only In certain instances.
The care that be taken not to destroy or in
becomes apparent when 1t is understood that the
Department has to handle and XIII the germs In over
60 600 pieces OF furniture, c.othng, etc, year. and
the number Is increasing each twelvemonth by leaps
and bounds This represents huse amount OF per-
sonal property. and the problem is TO return as much
as possible OF this safe and to cremate as little as
need be- More Is already saved and returned 10
people than would be thought possible.
In detail the new plant Is or great interest. and
its workings easy to understand. There are two
cars in the chambers. These run tracks that
By a curious denial he turned down and put on a
level with the floor. when the cars are locked within
the chambers. The chambers themselves are built
in two rooms which do not communicate with each
other When the dry steam has done Its work the
doors OF the chambers in the room beyond Will be
opened. and the cars pulled out there with the germs
completely destroyed.
Inside each chamber are coils OF steam pipes, d.
also pipes connected with the apparatus. for ex-
hausting the air from the interior OF the chamber.
pipes for admitting steam under reduced pressure,
and large pipe connecting with powerful fans and
hot air.
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