Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-31
LOADED SHIPS NOW
MAY Be FUM|GATED
New Process of Health Serv-
ice Eliminates Necessity OF
Vessels Waiting in Port,
vrcr IN. United states Daily.

From the United states Daily
method of fumigating loaded ships,
which eliminates the necessity OF walt
ing for ships to discharge their cargo,
has been developed and adopted oy the
United states Public Health service. :.
This new quarantine procedure
was asserted, not only increases the
effectiveness OF quara milne protection
in all ports from public health stand
point but 1t also saves shipowners q
treat deal of time and permits pubic
health authorities In quarantine WORK
10 checkup more thoroughly and surely
on their own work. IL.
No longer is it necessary Tor SNIP
which may be regarded as 'potentlaly
dangerous" to remain IN port ior a % ts,s
or more discharging cargo before TINS
ship may be funigated. This was tne
custom. however, In the past, 1t was
said With the development OF the new
method. the fumigation OF snip may
be accomplished as soon as the snip
arrives,
Rodents Examined.
Quarantine ofiicers thereby are able
to obtain samples of rats, insects, etc.,
from loaded ships thus fumigated. Elk
Animation of these rodents ana vermn
will show whether there Is disease
aboard the vessel, 1t was said. The FOL
lowing information also was mace
Only ships arriving from dangerous
ports, however, will be fumlgaVeo I'M
mediately upon arrival. $1,000
The method of fumigating loaded
vessels is simply to take advantage, IN
a systematic yay. of all openings. drain
nines yentilatorS. sounding pipes ana
rther anertures which will permit the
funrisation 10 be distributed In, around
and under the cargo: ..ir
The reasons for fumigating snip
while loaded are as follows ,.
/. To kill the rats oe1ore the SiAp
s0S0 70 xiii rats that may be harbcring
At a plague infected or suspected
mort to kill rats that may nave CONT
aboard. or may have been carried
aboard in cargo before the Vessel leaves
port. :. rot. for
examination in the laboratory 10 os.oo
mine the presence or probable absence
If irfectior. Absence of infection among
the rats secured may be taken as pre-
sunnntive evidence that all rats on tne
ship are free of infection
80 Per Cent Killed.
Data available to date indicate tEat
a carefully carried out ium 11 sa OF oa,t
of the rats on board. Due to the fact
that certain portions Of loaded noids
i cannot al-yays be directly reached LOT
nurnoses of fum!gation. the varlatlcnS
of individual effectiveness are llkeIy 10
be somewhat greater than III empty
vessels. In most cases this occurs wnsn
the principal rat harborage az Inc
bottom of the holds. Gas may De m
reduced into the bilges through the
sounding pipes, but ltS oihusloh eoh
not be controlled.
ON loaded ships the effectiveness OF
funigation is more dependent upon
the thoroughneSs and care with Vnlcn
the work is done than on empty Ves-
sells. A longer time is required, because
there are more locations into winch gas
must be directly introduced.
When effectiveness is 80 per cent,
sreater protection to the port Is al
forded by a loaded fumigation, before
the vessel goes to dock. than would be
secured by 100 per cent effectiveness OF
a fInnigation performed after unload
ing at dock. Vessels arriving loadeo
generally stay in port about 10 Gays
Ave to unload and flve TO reload. "A
simple arithmetical computation proves
fhe above contention in such case.
For example, promising the presence OF
100 rats. if 30 are killed before the
shin goes to dock, the port will be ex-
! posed in 10 days to 200 rat days: wnere-
as, if it goes TO dock and remains there
ave DAYS before fumigation, the port
is exposed to 500 rat days.
The amount of gas to be USED u
exactly the same as would be Used
were the ship being frrnigated empty
Exposure in loaded holds should DC
four hours.
Type of Acid Used.
LIQUID hydrocyanic acid is supplied
in steel cylinders, each holding IS
pounds. For use it must be put INTO
smaller cylinders, designated as appn'
Gators, each holding 10 pounds. The
LIQUID is forced from the applicato-s by
air pressure through a rubber tube end
ing in q spray nozzle. The amount de-
livered is determined by weighing
The mechanics of the apparatus are
simple. The companies supplying liquid
HON supply all apparatus required,
with directions for using it.
Equipment for loaded fun1igation in
cludes four applicators, two platform
spring scales. capacity each so pounds;
four 30-foot lengths Of tube, two So
foot lengths Of tube. six spray MOBILES,
one trigger-valve sprayer, two high
| pressure air pumps "a motor pump or