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12 MARINE REVIEW. [February 15, DISINFECTING SHIPS. THEIR DEVELOPMENT IN UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SERVICE—DESCRIPTION OF THE SANATOR, A MODERN VESSEL OF THIS KIND—A WORK LITTLE KNOWN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. BY C_ M. GREEN, FIRST ASSISTANT ENGINEER, R.C.S., SUPERINTENDENT QF CONS7 RUCTION The control of new possessions and dependencies by the United States has made it necessary for the United States marine hospital ser- vice to greatly increase its appliances for preventing the spread of in- fectious diseases by disinfection of vessels, together with crew, passengers and baggage at all important ports,.and especially Southern ports. Such appliances have been gradually improving for some years, the energies of this bureau being constantly directed to that end and the extended experience of the officers of the service making great advancement pos- sible. The successful and rapid disinfection of the returning troops and troopships at Montauk point in the fall of 1898 by means of the: disin- fecting barge Protector—just then completed—fully demonstrated the DISINFECTING SHIP PROTECTOR, U. 8. MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE. efficiency of a floating disinfecting plant capable of being moved from port to port and of rapidly and easily disinfecting large ships with their passengers or troops and effects. Had no such apparatus been avail- able at that time the spread of disease from the troops returning from Cuba might have been very disastrous, and, although the use of the dis- infecting barge was but little known to the general public, the comple- tion and use on that occasion may almost be compared in fortunate results to the timely arrival and use of the Monitor in Hampton Roads ‘during the civil war. This same vessel, the Protector, was of equal ser- vice in Havana harbor during the summer and fall, and has attracted the attention of foreign governments, the builders being in receipt of a num- ber of requests therefrom for the plans and sfecifications. The bureau is now fitting out for service another disinfecting vessel, the Sanator, just completed by the Kensington Engine Works at Phila- delphia. The Sanator was designed and constructed under the super- vision of Dr. Walter ‘Wyman, surgeon general of the marine hospital service, and is provided with the latest and most improved Kinyoun- Francis disinfecting and fumigating machinery, the whole plant being a decided improvement on the barge Protector and undoubtedly the most complete disinfecting vessel in the world. The contract price for the vessel was $56,700, the date of contract being Jan. 3, 1899. Many im- provements were afterwards made on the original design, causing changes, which, together with the supplies and outfit, made the total cost - of the vessel $70,243.32. GENERAL DESORIPTION OF THE VESSEL. The Sanator is a low powered steam vessel, capable of making a maximum speed of about 8 knots, this being sufficient to enable her to reach her station and to move around the harbor as may ‘be required. The hull is framed of Delaware oak, planked inside and out with yellow pine and decked with ‘Oregon piné. The use of wood for the ‘construc- tion of the hull was necessitated by the fact that a steel hull is quickly corroded and eaten away by the solution of bichloride of mercury, which is one of the disinfectants used in considerable quantities on the vessel and which cannot be kept out of the bilge. The construction of the hull is very strong and well suited for the purpose intended. The principal dimensions are: Length over-all, 16114 feet; beam, extreme of water line, 82 feet; depth top of main deck beams at side to top of keel 13 feet 8 inches; normal draught, mean, 7 feet 9 inches. Bilge keels, 8 by 10 inches, extending for a distance of 80 feet amidships are provided to re- duce rolling in a sea way, and the hull is coppered to a mean draught of 8 feet 6 inches. The hold is entirely floored over 12 inches above the keelson, giving a large space for the reception of disinfecting and auxil- iary machinery. At each end are raised platform decks to an¢rease the floor space. > Shae | Meee 2 -Fhere are two cross bulkheads forming between them the infected compartment of the hold into which is taken all baggage, clothing and effects to be disinfected. This compartment contains the forward ends of the two steam disinfecting, chambers with the doors, cars and tracks and also. a yat for bichloride of mercury for disinfecting certain articles by immersion in this solution. ‘Above this compartment is a. hatch 8 feet square from the main deck and also clothes hatches from the two dis- robing rooms in the deck house. This compartment is provided with lockers and racks, but’ is so built-as to be easily disin‘ected or fumigated as may be necessary after infected goods are handled. Forward of the infected compartment is another compartment, also provided with large hatches. This space contains the chain lockers, paint locker, sulphur bins, two large sulphur furnaces with smoke pipes, sulphur pipes, exhauster and engine, two store rooms and two large fresh water tanks, the latter being located under the raised flooring. The space aft of the infected compartment is the largest compartment in the vessel. : In its forward end are the two steam disinfecting chambers with the formaldehyde gas and ammonia generators, the steam exhauster, cars, tracks, doors and attachments. Goods after being disinfected in the chambers are brought through this compartment and taken up through the after hatch, which is 8 feet square. At the sides abreast of the steam chambers are two fresh water tanks. Aft of these are two storage bat- teries for lighting purposes. This storage battery system is believed to be the first ever installed in a vessel for the United States government. Abaft these are the ventilating blower and engine on the starboard side and the dynamo room on the port side. This latter room contains beside the. engine and dynamo the switchboard and connections and a tool locker. ‘Next to the dynamo room is another large water tank, near which is located the steam fire pump. On the starboard side is an 1,800- gallon tank for bichloride of mercury solution and near it a special steam pump connected to force the solution through pipes and hose connec- tions to all parts of the vessel or to a vessel alongside as may be neces- sary. - Next to these tanks and outboard of the after hatch are the two single ended Scotch boilers and outboard: of these are two more water tanks. Next to these are the two coal bunkers holding together 30 tons of coal. Between the coal bunkers is the main engine with its attach- ments and the main feed pump, the water service pump, the condenser, air and circulating pumps and feed tank. On the raised platform aft are the pressure supply tank, oil tanks, lockers, work bench and a large ice box and refrigerator. On the main deck forward is a steam windlass for handling the anchors and also arranged for working the two derrick booms. Aft there is a hand deck pump arranged for use as a bilge or fire pump. A side ladder which can be shipped on either side of thé vessel is provided and also a sea ladder. DECK HOUSE—EQUIPMENT OF BOATS. ~*~ The deck house, 24 feet 6 inches wide, extends for a distance of 99 feet and has an extension at the after end 7 feet 2 inches long on which is located the pilot house. It is divided into two parts, the quarters aft and the rooms for handling. infected persons forward. A fore-and-aft DISINFECTING SHIP SANATOR, U. S. MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE bulkhead separates the forward part into two divisions, which may be used for males and females as required. Infected persons are brought on board by the side ladder near the forward end of the deck house. They enter the forward or disrobing rooms, there being one on each side. Their clothing is lowered through the clothes hatches to the in- fected compartment of the. hold where it is sorted and disinfected, going through the steam chambers and up the after hatch. The persons being treated: meanwhile pass from the disrobing rooms to the bath rooms— four rooms cach with a tub and shower. After bathing they go to the dressing rooms, where their clothing has been delivered alter. disinfection. They then pass to the waiting rooms, where they remain until taken ashore or to their vessel. The after part of the upper deck is provided with awning and benches and can be used by waiting passengers in good weather, there being a stairway connecting it with the waiting rooms below. The quarters for officers and crew in the after end of the deck house comprise a mess room, nine staterooms, with two berths each, a galley, storage closets and lockers. There are two water closets in the after end of the house and two connected with the dressing rooms. Besides the eighteen berths Br BN