The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-15
EN-ALDERMAN TURNED INVENTOR
McGuIre's Portable Disinfecting Fur
mace. the Device.


Ex-Alderman James Mcclure. Is
an inventor and what is more. the IN
ventlon appears TO be Of "a very crediiah'e
order sir McGuires invention is not Of
the jim-crack or catch penny order but
Is q sanitary device intended 20 aid 30 the
preservation OF health. and in the pre-
vention OF the spread ci disease
'McGuire's Portable Formaldehyde
Generator aud Sulphur DioNide Furnace
Is the name which SIR Mcclure has given
10 his device and under which ne has
already applied for a patent. As the name
indicates the device is intended for fu-
migating purposes being adapted especial
ly FOR the fumigation Of rooms ships
holds and other places where Sc Is con-
siiered desirable 90 destroy the germs
which may bee believed 10 exist there.
Mr.. Mcclure has not heretofore posed
as a sanltarian. and many Of his friends
may be surprised 20 hear Of his develop
meut ON this line Nevertheless he has
been working on this idea for several
wears and began 10 put his ideas into
practical shape about eight months ago.
He nov has two complete machines. one
small ond one large. which were con-
siructed len Savannah. with roth Of which
practical tests have already been made
ana satisfactory results obtained The
residence Of well known railroad on
cial was recently disinfected together
with its contents. by Mr.. Mcguire with
hts apparatus and was apparently a COM
plete success.
As evidence OF his confidence IN his in
venIon Mr. Mcclure VIII begin giving
public exhibitions this week at the office
81 Justice Richard Wickaam az BRYAN
and West Broad streets one or the ma
chimes has been installed there and eN-
hlhitions viii be 'given every afternoon
this week from ? to 5 o'clock. beginning
this afternoon
As the name indicates the device Is port.
able and can easily be Transferred from
one point 20 another. one OF the advant-
ages claimed for the machine is that IL
can De operated from outside the room or
place desired 90 b. disinfccted. pipe or
pipes leading from tho machine carrying
the fumes as desired. By this means the
operator can operate the machine in com
fort and az the same time supervise lis
operations without difficulty. MIR Mcclure
believes thar this device win prove a
great Improvement on the methods now
in use hy the citys sanitary department
ir that 10 win greatly facilitate the work.
assure greater thoroughncss in dlsinfcc-
ton. and that the damage TO the articles
disinfected will Toe almost II not entirely
done away. Under the present system the
destruction 81 clothing and household
goods where cases Of contagious diseases
have occurred o. quite "a heavy item Of
expense 20 the unfortunates. ana a very
serious ono where the parties are poor.
rs IS frequently the case.
The device consists OF large iron pan.
mounted upon a table ana divided into
three compartments, one being for for
m3'dehyde. another for sulphur and the
third for water. The heat ia furnished by
gasoline Jets underneath. and the fumes
thus generated are brought together into
pipe by which they are conveyed as de-
sired Either formaldchyde or sulphur
alone or both together cnn be- used as de-
sired. a fuil technical description OF the
apparatus Is given IN the petition which
Mr Mcclure has filed with the patent
Office a. Washington Mr. Mcclure says
Doe has been keeping up with the reports
of such matters in the sanitary and scicn-
tire publications and he has seen no such
device advertised n sthlt which be- has
got mp Although there are many dis
affecting plants and appliances on the
market. be believes the portable furnace
devised by him O. lu original idea. and
one which will be- 81 general demand for
disfufectlnu purposes