The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-05-13
sMoKE-WAsHING APPARATUS.

New Method of Cleaning the Air of Soot and Fumes.
 We have had an opportunity of wit messing trial of smoke-washing ap- paratus which has been placed on the roof of Romano's restaurant in the Strand, London. A similar apparatus is being fixed in the basement of the Imperial restaurant in Regent street, but owing to building operations it's application has been temporarily sus- pended at that place. This is to be re- gretted, as it is stated that the appa- ratus does its best work when attached to the lower portion of chimney, as the fan contained in the apparatus so regulates the draught that chimneys are not required. The inventor is Pro- lessor Giovanni Mugna, of Forli. Italy, who claims for his patent that it de- prives the smoke of all those qualities which are objectionable, whether from the point of view of health or of clean- Illness. It consists of a metal cylinder at the top of which are openings for the ingress and egress of smoke. A vertical shaft runs through the center of this cylinder, carrying on its upper portion 8 centrifugal fan and near it's lower end "whirler" or paddle. Smoke drawn from the chimney into the cylinder by means of the fan and the whirlar mixes it with water con- tained in the bottom of the cylinder. After being washed the smoke, now al- most colorless, escapes from the upper ,.f of ha This va residue we have not had an opportuni- ty of examining chemically, but the in ventor states that it contains only faint trace of carbonic acid.
 The following little experiment was made before us: Pieces of wet blot ting paper were held for few seconds over a chimney leading from fire where bones and other refuse was be- ing burnt. As might be expected, the paper was quickly covered with soot. The smoke washing apparatus was then connected with the chimney and clean wet plotting paper was applied over the washed smoke outlet. On re- moving the paper only three or four smuts were to be seen. The experi- ment was repeated several times with similar results; it is fair to state that even the few smuts may have been blown from the chimneys in the im- mediate vicinity. Without any great inconvenience it was quite possible to hold the head over the smoke outlet, when only a faint odor resembling burning wood could be perceived. On the residue at the bottom of the cylin- der being drawn off it was seen to be thick fluid of ink-like blackness, giv- ing off a strong odor of smoke. The apparatus is worked by small elec- tric motor of about one horse power. In building where some sort of mo- tive power is already in use no special motor Is required, and an electric mo- tor can always be used where 8, con- tinuous current is supplied. The na- chine itself only requires to be emp tied once or twice day. We under stand that tEe apparatus is already in use in Italy. The London address of the patentees is No. Denmark street. Charing Cross road, London, w. c. We have said enough to show that the apparatus is one that deserves careful trial. If it should prove that it is ca
 pablo of doing a fair proportion of what is claimed for it by it's inventor it ought to effect an appreciable differ ence in the atmosphere of any towns where it may be used.--London Lan- cet.