and the possibility of asphyxiating any one on the ship is, with ordinary care, very remote, as the gas is so unpleasant that anyone exposed to it would at once become alarmed and escape long before any dangerous effect was produced. A third advantage is that the gas, unlike carbonic oxide, kills insects.
In the carbonic oxide process as used at Hamburg the gas employed is heavier than air and thus fills up the hold by gravitation. There is, however, danger of fatal accidents in connection with its use, as it will be difficult to dislodge completely from a hold, and the mixture employed is intensely poison- If undiluted it would cause ous and would give little warning of its presence. unconsciousness in a few seconds, as it contains no oxygen. It might also cause some damage to cabins, &c., unless it were freed from sulphuretted hydrogen.
In the carbonic oxide process which I suggested in a previous report, the gus itself is much less poisonous, and not being heavier than air would readily escape from a hold. The risk of accidental poisoning except under the strictest supervision would, however, be present, particularly in the case of the parts above the main deck. There would also be a good deal of difficulty in getting the gas to pass through all parts of a hold, although taking into account the difference of temperature between the cargo and sides of the ship, and the constant convection currents which must thus exist, I am inclined to think that this gas would penetrate readily enough if simply pumped down a ventilator in each hold for a few hours. It would do no damage to any article of cargo and would leave no smell of any kind; but it would have no effect whatever in destroying insects.
The Clayton process at Dunkirk is now carried out, not by the sanitary authorities as formerly, but by the Clayton Company. The use of the Clayton apparatus has, however, been recently rendered compulsory, where it exists at French ports, by a decree of the Minister of the Interior, dated 21st September, 1903. The fee charged for disinfecting the Bavaria was 441., this being As the vessel was of 3,009 tons register charged to the owners of the vessel.
the charge was at the rate of 34d. per registered ton. Representatives of owners expressed to me considerable dissatisfaction as to the owners having to bear this charge, particularly as, until quite recently, the charge for even a large vessel was less than 81.
In concluding this report I should like to acknowledge the valuable assist- ance and great courtesy of Captain Lindquister, the officers of the Bavaria, and Mr. Seligman, the agent of the Anchor Line at Dunkirk. I am also greatly indebted to Dr. Duriau, Director of the Sanitary Service at Dunkirk, and Dr. Loir, of Paris, both of whom gave me much valuable information and greatly furthered my investigation.
I am proposing, in accordance with the Board's instructions, to make further observations on the use of the Clayton Process, as occasion servés.
J. S. HALDANE.
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