To Fumigate a Ship.-Chlorine is perhaps the most powerful agent for this purpose. It may be evolved from Chloride of Lime by moistening it with water, or dilute Sulphuric Acid. It may also be obtained by pouring four parts of Hydrochloric Acid on one part of Binoxide of Manganese placed in a shallow vessel, and gently heated. The vessel should be placed high up as the gas descends, and all exits should be closed up. In many cases the burning of a small piece of sulphur will be found a very simple and efficacious means of disinfecting the air of a cabin or room. The room, however, must be made air-tight to retain the sulphurous acid gas, which is an irrespirable one. Clothing, after infectious or contagious diseases, may be disinfected, at once, by being plunged into boiling water. Linen and washing apparel should be immersed in water 212°; as uniforms or cloth clothing may be injured by water, it should be baked in an oven at a temperature from 210° to 250°, but as ovens are not to be obtained at sea, it is worth remembering, in an emergency, that boiling water will act efficiently. Cloths dipped in a solution of chloride of lime, one pound to the gallon, may be hung up in an inhabited room to disinfect the air. Section 9. MONEY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OF USEFUL RULES IN MENSURATION; RULES FOR CALCULATING TONNAGE OF VESSELS, FLOATING POWERS OF SPARS, NUMBER OF SQUARE YARDS IN SAILS, &c. |