OP Y.
Enclosure 2.
Treasury Department,
United States
335
0.0
6559
Public Health Service,
410, Chestnut Street,
Port of Philadelphia, Pa.,
November 11, 1912.
Dr. J. W. Noble.
Hongkong, China.
24 FEB 131
Dear Sir,
I have referred your letter of October 1st., 1912, to the Schutte and Korting Company, agents for the Harker Fumigating Lachine in this country, and they informed me that they have written to you and will send you drawings and full infomation.
I have been using the machine installed on the quaran- -tine Steamer *Bratton" for blowing carbon-monoxide fumes into the
ships that require disinfection, for the past two montus, and find that
the gas effectually kills rats in all places fumigated by it. It takes
much less time to introduce this gas into the compartments of a vessel
than it does to fumigate a ship with sulphur, large vessels having been
done here in less than six hours, and smaller ones in a much shorter
time. The gas is much more efficient in killing rats tuan sluphur, but greater care has to be taken with it as it has very little oder and
persons are liable to be overcome and may be killed by its action, if they are allowed to remain where it is for any length of time. The effec
of the gas Las been measured by rats placed in cases and also by lantern
for rats seldom live a longer time in the gas than is required to
extinguish & light. The best means we found for conveying the gas from the machine into vessels is by the use of galvanized iron piping made of 24" iron, 6" in diameter, 8" hosing being employed to connect the pipes
together where it is necessary to turn corners; this being hosing is
held apart by No. 10 English Phosphor Bronze wire. The different parts
of the pipe are joined together by slip couplings held in place by
screws and lugs. No experiment has as yet been Lade in fumigating
vessels filled with cargo, but I have very little doubt that the gas
can